A Taste of September at the Everett Farmers Market
Photography by Sylvia Blaauw and Leland Dart Photography.
September is a time of change at the Everett Farmers Market. Summer isn’t quite finished, fall is beginning to arrive, and both the produce and the lineup of farmers change with the season. As some crops finish for the year, other late-summer and fall harvests are just reaching their peak.
Depending on the harvest, you may still find summer favorites like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini and corn alongside the first signs of fall — apples, pears, potatoes, winter squash and root vegetables. What’s available changes from week to week, which is part of the experience of shopping directly from local farmers.
Frog Song Farm, operated by Nate O’Neil and Shannon Dignum on Fir Island in the Skagit River Delta, is one of the Everett Farmers Market’s longtime farms, going back to the market’s waterfront days. Frog Song grows an impressive variety of fruits and vegetables and is known for dry-farming techniques that make use of the rich Skagit Valley soil.
Cabrera Farms, operated by Francisco and Zochitl Cabrera in the Skagit Valley, is a family-run certified organic farm growing a wide variety of vegetables. Their harvest includes lettuce, zucchini, summer and winter squash, cucumbers, green beans, cabbage and more.
From Sunnyside in Eastern Washington, Magaña Farms is another longtime Everett Farmers Market vendor dating back to the waterfront years. The family farm brings tree fruit along with warm-season vegetables that thrive in the warmer, drier climate east of the Cascades. Watch for their tomatoes and peppers which are coming on right now.
Closer to home, Midgarden Farm in Arlington, operated by Jenn Mendivil, brings sustainably grown seasonal produce from right here in Snohomish County. What began as a small urban garden has grown into a thriving local farm offering a variety of seasonal vegetables along with fresh eggs — another reminder that shopping the market connects you directly with food grown and raised close to home.
SEPTEMBER PICK: TOMATOES
September is a wonderful time to enjoy locally grown tomatoes. Look for different colors, shapes and varieties, and ask the farmers which ones they recommend for slicing, salads, sauces or roasting.
Looking for something warm as the days begin to cool? Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets recommends Creamy Tomato Soup from Love & Lemons in its Fall Soup Series.
Make it a market meal by pairing the soup with grilled cheese made with sourdough from Lotus Flour or gluten-free bread from Hunter Bakery, along with locally made cheese from Samish Bay Cheese in Bow.
Recipe: Creamy Tomato Soup — Love & Lemons
The best way to shop in September? Come without too rigid a list. Walk through the farm booths, see what looks especially good that Sunday, and ask the growers what they’re harvesting.
Planning your market visit? Check the Everett Farmers Market Vendor Directory and select your market date to see which vendors are scheduled to be there that Sunday.
The Everett Farmers Market is open Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through October 25th at 2930 Wetmore Avenue in downtown Everett. Come see what September tastes like.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Karen Erickson has been involved in the management of the Everett Farmers Market since 2012 and previously served as Assistant Market Manager. She continues to work with the market and enjoys sharing the stories of the farmers and vendors who have helped make it an Everett tradition.