YOU CAN HELP! West Seattle Farmers Market seeks volunteers

(WSB photo from May)

From the nonprofit that operates farmers’ markets including ours:

Volunteer opportunity to support local farms and food access!

The West Seattle Farmers Market is looking for volunteers to help on market days with social distancing protocols and logistics, helping to keep our beloved farmers market running smoothly and safely for all. If you’d like to be a friendly, knowledgeable (masked) face inside the market, please fill out our volunteer application form! Of course, we’ll make sure you have time to shop too!

27 Replies to "YOU CAN HELP! West Seattle Farmers Market seeks volunteers"

  • Pete July 17, 2020 (6:01 pm)

    The Farmers Market needs to come up with a better plan to not impact the  brick and mortar businesses on Sundays.  Some of these businesses are holding on by a shoestring and by not cooperating with them is untenable. 

    • Carol July 17, 2020 (7:27 pm)

      Not following your comment, Pete. Do you have more specifics on what the challenges are? I’m confused because I’m not sure I see any additional impacts at this particular time.  Thanks for any additional insights. I’ve always thought of the market as a wonderful addition to sunday shopping/dining in the Junction. 

      • Pete July 17, 2020 (8:41 pm)

        Carol, they are using caution tape to discourage patrons from visiting the businesses on that block. Reach out to Dave Montoure, owner of West 5, for a first person account of the impacts that his business is feeling as an example. 

        • Brian Feusagach July 17, 2020 (9:28 pm)

          Pete, do you happen to know if the West Seattle Junction Association has been made aware of the issue? Their involvement would likely have a big impact in reaching a resolution (along with a grass roots effort).

          • Gatewood July 18, 2020 (8:56 am)

            They have but so far their concerns have not been taken seriously by the Mayor.  I get she is busy doing/not doing other things and a farmers market is low in her list. That said, keeping these Local, invested businesses around for our community is high on my list!  What the farmers market needs to see is a petition for them to move from the community and a promise that the community will still be patrons if they are in the lots and not the street until this pandemic is over!  Should we start one?

          • Confused in Arbor Heights July 18, 2020 (12:47 pm)

            Why in the world would the Mayor be involved in a business vs farmers market situation? The two parties need to work it out together. This relationship has been symbiotic for many years and as shoppers, we benefit from having both work together.

  • Born and raised July 17, 2020 (7:27 pm)

    I am for putting it back to where it was in the first place, 44th and Alaska parking lot area.  Keep California Ave. clear for transportation and for businesses.  Maybe I don’t get the Farmers Market thing.

  • WS5 July 17, 2020 (8:46 pm)

    Rent the North side of the Rite Aid Parking Lot for the Farmers Market.  It is also an easy walking distance to Junction business.

    • LyndaB July 17, 2020 (9:15 pm)

      Great idea and a nice view, too!

    • Anne July 17, 2020 (10:41 pm)

      That is a great idea!!!

    • Sunflower July 18, 2020 (2:23 pm)

      If businesses along California Ave are really losing business due to the market, I would support the market being moved to a parking lot. I would think though that it might be drawing some additional customers to those businesses that wouldn’t otherwise shop there, if it was moved to a parking lot.

      I personally enjoy the closed street markets, but I also think markets in parking lots can function fine. I can think of several other farmers markets in Seattle that do not close a street… Capitol Hill, Madrona, and the University market used to be in a parking lot (it now closes part of the Ave). Hopefully the market and merchants and community can come together to work this out.

      • Yes to Rite Aid parking lot July 18, 2020 (10:11 pm)

        I agree with moving the farmers market in the parking lot or parking lots nearby. It could also encourage more biking, walking and less driving 

      • Sunrise Heights July 20, 2020 (9:53 am)

        Thanks for your reasoned and informed support of the WSFM Sunflower. The farmers market is as much a part of the Junction community as a storefront. There has been a system of mutual support in place for over 20 years. 

  • Martin July 18, 2020 (7:00 am)

    This is indeed crippling the brick and mortar stores. It’s also pure politics and goes all the way to the Mayor’s office. The Farmer’s market received approval directly from the Mayor’s office and the management is not interested in working the the Junction merchants to find a solution. MANY proposals for common sense temporary re-location have been met with extreme resistance. In fact, the FMA has already submitted a proposal to the Mayor’s office to expand the market around the corner onto Alaska. This was done without ANY input from the Junction merchants.  The Junction association is aware of the situation but are dragging their feet on forcing the issue. The Mayors’ office announced a streamlined approval process for business’s to apply for sidewalk use and allow for semi-permanent seating for restaurants. Guess what…this can’t be done because of the farmers market.  The proposal is to re-locate the market back the parking lot on 42nd and expand into the next lot as well. Business and restaurants can then expand their space onto the sidewalk, and potentially into the parking lane. Another proposal is to alternate the location from the current block to the next block south. This way, all the merchants can “feel the pain”. The window to use the outside space is closing fast and every weekend that goes by without a solution is one step closer to many merchants not making it. Sadly, common sense has no place in Politics.

  • Governor’s Orders? July 18, 2020 (8:34 am)

    Why do we have a weekly Festival in the Junction when all other public events are cancelled? 

    • Sunflower July 18, 2020 (2:14 pm)

      It’s not a ‘festival,’ it’s a ‘farmers market.’ It’s an opportunity for farmers to sell their goods and for consumers to purchase them.

      Under normal times, the farmers market does attract many who attend for social/recreational purposes. But right now, my understanding is that the market has been modified to be more about getting in and out for essential needs, and they have implemented strategies to manage and reduce risks.

      • Sunrise Heights July 20, 2020 (9:56 am)

        Gov’s Orders, Sunflower is correct. A farmers market in Seattle has a strict definition – it is essential infrastructure (food), not a special event. 

  • Gatewood July 18, 2020 (8:42 am)

    I have talked to several small businesses and The market is now hurting them.  All they want is the market to move to the lots, which the WSJA has offered them, until the pandemic is over.  The restaurants are losing curbside access on Sunday for pickups, sidewalk cafe and retail cannot happen because of the footprint of the market with social distancing measures.  If the Market won’t move they need to fight to pull their street permit. I hope it doesn’t get to that.  Has fun as the market it, let’s be honest, it’s overpriced kale for white folks.  If it was really about fresh food access it wouldn’t be triangulated between a Trader Joes, Whole Foods and PCC.  It would be in Highland Park, Delridge or South Park.  With that said, who honestly would stop going if it was moved into the parking lots for the next several months?  I am more concerned about the brick and mortar lease holders than the non-west seattle farmers on this one.  Please don’t get me started on the he food trucks and glutten free cookie venders.  How is that good for the two bakeries one block south or all the restaurants in the area?  Is was a farmers market but it is turning into a mini street fair that isn’t fair to it’s neighboring businesses.

    • Julie July 19, 2020 (9:41 am)

      Many many many years ago ( about 20 years or more) they tried a Farmers Market in White Center. Many people who bought produce at the White Center Farmers Market were using food stamps. As I recall the Farmers Market in White Center only occurred once.  There is a Farmers Market in Burien. Yes, prices are way too much at Farmers Market for the average person even a two income family to be able to afford.  Yes, I also feel that rich people shop at PCC and Whole Foods. 
      Also, people of color and different races can be rich and eat kale. Don’t just assume only rich white people eat and buy kale. We had a president who was black and rich and there are black doctors and school principals and people of color who are professionals with college degrees or own their own business.

      • Gatewood July 19, 2020 (11:17 am)

        Many people of many colors buy kale, I am aware.  I think you are missing my point. WS/Junction area is a very white neighborhood. You can argue with me on that it you can look up the statistics.  The point of the market is to bring fresh food access.  The junction area has that is spades. You know what places don’t?  White center, Highland, Park, South Park and Delridge.  I believe the last two are classified as literal “food deserts”.  So I am advocation to put the fresh food access where needed.  Those also happen to be some of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city.  So as you tried to color me with a racist tone you will see, I am actually advocating for the market to live it’s mission.  Take the markets to the neighborhoods that need it or own up to that not being the goal and at least be a good neighbor and TEMPORALLY move to the lots and make room for all businesses to survive. 

  • James July 18, 2020 (9:57 am)

    The Alaska Junction is the hub of West Seattle shopping. I think we shouldn’t divide the traffic, but focus it in the area. If you think driving people away to different corners is more productive then I think you are flat wrong. If business owners don’t know how to capitalize on the Farmer’s Market, then that is their failing. And a major failing it is– learn to interact– do not divide.

  • Rick July 18, 2020 (12:05 pm)

    Just close all access down to parks,streets,business ares,viewpoints, etc to anybody making less than 6 figure techies for their private publicly funded streets and your problem is solved. For a while. Then it will be taken over by the 7 figures. Then listen who complains then.

  • Joe Z July 18, 2020 (1:05 pm)

    I stopped going to the Farmers Market because of the long line. They could have expanded to 2 blocks months ago to let more people in. As for Junction businesses, they are reaping what they sowed by catering to cars and not encouraging more bikes and foot traffic. It’s not a very pleasant place to walk or dine outdoors because of the narrow sidewalks. And there is no access via all-ages bike infrastructure. 

    • Brian July 19, 2020 (9:09 am)

      Agreed. The market should have spaced out and took up the whole stretch between Edmunds and Oregon as soon as social distancing was put in place.    

    • Julie July 19, 2020 (9:51 am)

      Not everyone who goes to this area lives close by and many people who want to visit are old people who use cars. Stop assuming that everyone who lives in the North West area are in their 20’s or a person who rides a bike to get around the city. 

  • anonyme July 19, 2020 (8:24 am)

    To start with, businesses are not blocked due to the Farmer’s Market, any more than they would be normally.  The tape runs along the curb, and there are multiple spots to exit or enter.   I find it hard to believe that businesses would be severely impacted by not being able to drive up to the curb for 4 hours on one day a week, Covid or not.  I formerly used my Sunday market visits to also visit Junction businesses and restaurants, including Bakery Nouveau – which, btw, still has a line out the door on Sunday despite either the market or the virus.  the only reason I’m not doing that now is due to Covid, not market blockage.  And sidewalk dining in the Junction is a terrible idea, now or ever.  Not a market fan?  Fine, don’t go, but don’t try to deny others the choice or try to define it in racist terms to suit your agenda (which also ignores the fact that many of the vendors are POC).

    • Gatewood July 19, 2020 (11:06 am)

      The current layout is absolutely discouraging people from going into local businesses.  How would moving the market to the lots hurt the market? Would people stop going because it wasn’t in the middle of the road?  Also,  when business recovery numbers are better 6 out of 7 days if the week in the junction but 7 for 7 in other neighborhoods you have to look at causation.  A temp move of the market just makes too much sense for the city to actually do anything about it.  It’s easy, free and help all involved.  These Strongman (pun intended for those in the know) tactics need to end and the FM needs to be a partner, not a bully as they are a guest here, not committed locals.

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