PORT HADLOCK — Port Townsend’s twice-weekly farmers market not only provides an outlet for east Jefferson County growers but is proving the need for more farming.
“Producers in Jefferson County are not meeting the demand for local food,” said the market’s manager, Harvindar Singh, during a meeting of the Tri-Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.
Attendance at the market, which moved to Port Townsend’s uptown district this year, has more than doubled in the past three years. Sales volumes have also grown rapidly during that time.
“The market is an economic force,” Singh said. “People don’t realize how much money it generates.”
The market also is also an economic development tool.
Singh said five new businesses, with 10 new jobs, have been developed during the past three years.
“Vendors average $300 a week in sales,” Singh said during the meeting at the Inn at Port Hadlock. He said vendors can make $10,000 during a single season at the market.
Business success
A number of businesses have started from the base of customers vendors built at the market, and others have needed to hire additional workers on market days to keep up with the volume of business.
“The market has multiple effects,” Singh said, referring to sales and business growth.
The market is open on Wednesdays and Sundays. Wednesday hours are 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday’s are 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
