Seattle Must Stop: Visit the Ballard Farmers Market
Seattle Guide Must Stop: Visit the Ballard Farmers Market
If you will be visiting Seattle, Washington over a Sunday a must stop and one of the fun things to do it check out the Ballard Farmers Market. The Ballard Farmers market is part of the Seattle Farmers Market Assosiation and runs year round from 10:00am to 3:00pm. It’s located at 22nd Avenue NW and NW Market Street in Seattle, Washington.
Everything sold at the market is Washington grown or made. There’s nothing better than picking out what you’re going to eat for dinner knowing it was picked the day before. It’s a great way to support local farmers, reduce your food miles, and eat something more delicious!
Summer Harvest
It’s currently June and the harvest is ramping up. There are lots of farms here selling locally grown produce. I know many people want to hit up Pike Place Market when visiting Seattle, and if you haven’t been before make a stop. However, if you have the chance to visit the Ballard Farmers Market, it’s totally worth it. A great stop if you’re staying in an Air BNB where you can cook up something amazing with stuff from the Ballard Farmers Market. Even if you’re staying where you don’t have a kitchen to cook in (or you don’t cook) there’s a lot of street food to try and everyone can grab some fresh fruit and veg to munch on!
For those who eat meat, there are many stands that sell sustainable and lower waste seafood. Fishing nets are a substantial contributor to ocean plastics, so it’s great to be able to pick up some line caught sea food. Caught right off the Washington coast!
Jeff got a sample and then for salami. Lots of vendors have samples for you to taste. If you’re like up you’ll taste here and there and pickup things for a wine and charcuterie-like spread. If we’re planning on going to the Ballard Farmers Market on Sunday, we’ll plan that out dinner comes from the market.
It’s easy to pick up enough items to have a nice spread. We’ll get bread from one of the bakeries like ,Amarelo Bread, cheese from one of the creameries and/ or Chelo Cultured Cashew Creme (if you’re vegan, get this it is SO amazing). There’s also vendors with wine, beer, and kombucha, and obviously all the local produce you could want!
You can even buy vegetable and herb starts and do some growing yourself!
There are SO many options when it comes to mushrooms. As always, the farmers markets will be seasonal. We try to make a stop when moreles and chantrerelles are available.
Foraged and Found Edibles has some amazing morels right now! These are more of a luxury and they work with local restaurants as everything is hand picked and foraged substantially.
It’s June and the rhubarb is plentiful! If you haven’t had rhubarb before definitely try it out. It’s very tart, but is lovely cooked. I make a sauce with it with just water and sugar that my grandma made me as a child and also roasted rhubarb sorbet. If you see people with popsicles, there are sometimes rhubarb popcicles and they are divine.
This was the first weekend that we saw Rainier cherries. If you haven’t had a Rainier cherry you’re missing out. We look forward to them every year. Eating most raw, but also putting some into a compote. Rainier cherries are a cross between a van and a bing cherry, they are larger and also sweeter than a dark cherry as well.
Julia carried her two pound bag of cherries the whole time. She would eat just Rainier cherries for a meal if we let her. The Ballard Farmers Market is a great way to get children excited about fresh produce and also learn where and who grows their food.
Fresh flower bouquets are abundant from spring to late fall. You can even get a bouquet in the winter made with fir trees, pinecones, and dried flowers. Most bouquets are about $10 and some are huge and closer to $25. We love to bring fresh flowers home every weekend. If you’re visiting friends or family while in Seattle these would make a great hostess gift.
Hayton Farms is at a lot of the farmers markets in the Puget sound area. They are our go to stop for berries. They grow strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries so we have a long summer season of delicious berries to come. For local and organic they are at a great price and if you return your flat box you get a $1 off next time. We do typically get a flat of mixed berries and use some if baked goods and eat the rest. If I don’t keep a close eye on Julia she’ll eat half the blue berries before we leave the market
Julia had to keep stopping to ask for a cherry. She still needs help with the pits. Like I said earlier she loves to snack while we walk around. The Ballard Farmers Market provides wash water at the information stand, so wash your veggies and dig in!
There are also a lot of vendors that are selling ready to eat food. Ice cream, corn on the cob, pizza, tacos, and so much more. You can get some greens and get lunch while you’re here!
I got a bag photo, but if you want some Darn Good BBQ Sauce, stop by Darn Good BBQ Sauce. It is the best BBQ sauce I have had. We like to pick some up during the summer months, grab some corn, chicken, and greens and you have dinner!
Overall, the Ballard Farmers Market is a great place to come hang out on a Sunday. It makes my Seattle Must Stop list as it lets you see a market that I find more locals shop at. Pike Place is fun, but it’s touristy and you don’t get to know your farmers as well. If you’re in Seattle, Washington over a Sunday, or if you live here and haven’t gone what are you waiting for? Stop by from 10-3pm and see what local farmers, artisans, and other vendors have to offer.
Do you have a farmers market you love? Where is it at? Do you eat seasonally or do you liek your strawberries in December? Comment below!
-Rebecca