When Dale and Tom Davis have guests visiting from out of town, there’s always one must-see on the list: the Vancouver Farmers Market.
“They always find something they can’t live without,” Dale Davis said of her guests.
On Saturday afternoon, on the final weekend of the market, Dale and Tom Davis were guest-free, but in the midst of their usual route: first, the artisan noodle stand, a pit stop for falafel sandwiches, next the scones and finally, the vegetables and fresh fruit stands.
Oh, and don’t forget the flowers. Dale Davis, 84, was holding a bouquet of dahlias, eucalyptus and lilies in fall colors, which she planned to give to a neighbor.
Here’s how it went at Hummus Hummus, a local business that sells Middle Eastern cuisine: Tom Davis, 90, walked up to the vendor and was immediately greeted with a, “Hi, Tom. How are you, Tom?”
Someone promptly brought him a chair so he could sit while he waited for his order.
Yeah, they come here a lot and have since the 1990s.
This year marked the 27th season of the Vancouver Farmers Market. Sunday is the final day of the season. A Harvest Market is scheduled for Nov. 19 and a Holiday Market for Nov. 25-27.
The market often opens in March and starts to wind down in October. During the peak months, there are often 145 different vendors and as many as 10,000 people on a Saturday.
Most vendors come from fewer than 40 miles away, although there are some exceptions. This year, there were several new vendors, including two new dairies that sold raw milk.
“People were ecstatic we had raw milk,” said Erin Timmerman, director of operations with the market.
Jordan Boldt, the executive director, said the market continues to do well and grow.
The largest growth is seen in the food sector, he said.
“Pickled sauces, dried rubs, cured meats, marinades, pasta,” Boldt said.
Another new vendor this year was the Vancouver company Lightning Greens, with sunflower, peas and radishes micro-greens that are great for soups and salads.
This was the first year Alisse Penland of Vancouver Toffee Co. sold her candy at the market.
“It’s been more than fantastic,” she said, adding that she’s nearly doubled her sales and also enjoyed learning from and getting to know the other vendors.
This weekend, the market is giving $2 vouchers for kids to use at the market, and there is also an urban pumpkin patch and crafts for children.
