Market Magic is Brewing

The buzz of growth and creation abounds as farmers, artisans, and chefs prepare to greet you next weekend at the Port Townsend Farmers Market (PTFM) Opening Celebration. Ground Control Goats are gathering their festive digs and practicing their parade march for the occasion. This week, we're highlighting more new small business vendors and spotlighting Goodness Tea Farm. Read the newsletter>>> 

Goats, Goodies & Good Vibes

Crocuses and daffodils add splashes of color around town while birds and frogs sing songs of awakening. Today marks the Spring Equinox, and in the words of the late, great Robin Williams, "Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'" 

Jefferson County Farmers Markets (JCFM) can't wait to party with you during our Port Townsend Farmers Market (PTFM) Opening Celebration on Saturday, April 5th, 9am - 2pm. Look forward to some familiar favorite traditions like our community photo, red ribbon cutting, live music by Kristin and Otto Smith, and, of course, the goat parade by Ground Control Goats. Read the newsletter>>> 

Fresh Faces & Local Favorites

(3/13/25) In three weeks, the Port Townsend Farmers Market (PTFM) will transform Tyler Street into a bustling marketplace every Saturday through mid-December.

There is much to look forward to this season, including 19 new vendor businesses joining the PTFM. (See a complete vendor list here.) In honor of National Women’s Day last week, we’re highlighting some new and returning women-owned businesses that you can look forward to seeing at the PTFM opening celebration on Saturday, April 5th, 9am - 2pm. Read the newsletter>>> 

Spring is almost here...and so is Market Season!

(3/6/25) The countdown begins. We are just four weeks away from the Port Townsend Farmers Market (PTFM) Opening Celebration, taking place on Saturday, April 5th, 9am - 2pm. This season, we are pleased to welcome (#) new small business vendors to the PTFM between our Saturday and Wednesday markets. (Please note that the Wednesday afternoon market opens in June.) Look for highlights on these new vendors in each newsletter over the coming weeks. Read the newsletter>>> 

Seeking Board Members & Gearing Up for the 2025 Season

(1/30/25) Greetings and happy winter! We have some updates to share and an invitation to apply for the Jefferson County Farmers Markets (JCFM) board of directors. JCFM is in an exciting development phase as a small nonprofit organization after several years of COVID-19 recovery, stabilization, and strategic planning. Please join us in this work through direct purchases with local businesses at your farmers markets, by applying to vend at the market, or by joining our board of directors.  Read the newsletter>>>

Season Closing Holiday Market

(12/19/24) This Saturday, December 21, marks the Winter Solstice and the final Port Townsend Farmers Market of the 2024 season. Thank you, community, for understanding the necessary closure of last week's market. It is rare for us to close down the Market, but of course, the safety of Market vendors and patrons is of the highest importance. Read the newsletter>>>

Season Wrap-Up: Final Two Markets 🎁

(12/12/24) Jefferson County farmers are up early these frosty mornings, making the most of minimal daylight to bring you their harvest for our final two markets of the season. Artisans, makers, and chefs are bringing you their best with an incredible array of handcrafted goodies. Find gorgeous wreaths from Fig and Otter Farm, and Serendipity Farm to deck your halls. Keep an eye out for holiday specials and beautiful gift sets put together by our vendors, including Sasquatch Botanicals, Motsi Rituals, and Colibri. Read the newsletter>>>

Community Connection + Finnriver spotlight

(12/5/24) There are just three markets left in the 2024 season, still offering a cornucopia of produce to stock up on for the winter months. Find your favorite root veggies (potatoes, onions, parsnips, beets, radishes, carrots, garlic), vibrant greens, extra hearty and sweetened by the cold weather (kale, collards, chard, cabbage), and of course, all shapes, sizes, and colors of winter squash. Consider trying something new like puntarelle. "Crispy, nutty, pleasantly bitter," as described by Pierce of Soft Step Farm. "Traditionally sliced thin, lengthwise, and tossed in a simple anchovy, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice dressing." Read the newsletter>>>

Giving Thanks for Abundance, Fresh Food, & Community

(11/28/24) Happy Thanksgiving! Whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving, Jefferson County Farmers Markets (JCFM) wishes you a week filled with joy, connection, and nourishment. May we find gratitude in sharing a meal or simply appreciating the bounty of locally grown food this week and throughout the year. Read the newsletter>>>

Gathering 'Round Local Goodness

(11/21/24) During these drizzly and darker days, gathering with friends and family can lift the spirit, especially over a shared meal celebrating the bounty and craftsmanship of our region. The Port Townsend Farmers Market (PTFM) remains open for five more weeks. Come gather all the seasonal goodness and unique gifts you need to make the holidays bright. Read the newsletter>>>

Weather or not, we're open!

(11/14/24) Suddenly, it's beginning to feel more like winter, with shorter daylight hours and the regular pitter-patter of raindrops on the roof, but the Port Townsend Farmers Market (PTFM) remains open for six more weeks, from 10am - 2pm. Whether it's a sunny day or a chilly afternoon, our farmers, artisans, and food vendors are here, ready to serve you fresh, locally-grown produce, homemade goods, and unique finds. So bundle up and join us—we’ve got everything you need to stock up for the season! Read the newsletter>>>

Growing Stronger Together

(11/7/24) A vibrant community is like a healthy farm, where every individual is a vital part of the ecosystem, contributing to the whole. In natural farming, each element—whether it’s compost enriching the soil or beneficial insects maintaining balance—plays a role in fostering resilience and sustainability. Similarly, the Jefferson County Farmers Markets (JCFM) promotes community health and connection, incubates local small businesses, and fosters nutritious food access for a thriving local community. Read the newsletter>>>

Winter Hours 10am-2pm + #JCFMarketChef Finale

(10/31/24) Thank you, farmers market friends, for a wonderful 2024 season at the Chimacum Farmers Market. We had so much fun celebrating with you last Sunday and seeing all your fun costumes. Thanks for braving the wind to join us. 

The Port Townsend Farmers Market remains open until December 21, with new winter hours of 10am-2pm. We've got a huge variety of locally grown produce, including cauliflower, yacon, watermelon radish, Brussels sprouts, daikon radish, candy stripe beets, cabbage, and parsnips, with peppers and tomatoes still making an appearance. Read the newsletter>>>

Chimacum Farmers Market Season Send-off

(10/24/24) The Chimacum Farmers Market (CFM) season comes to a close this Sunday, October 27th, with a lively celebration from 10am - 2pm. Don your silliest costume and join in the fun with activities for the whole family. This season, we had a record number of vendors at the CFM, welcoming 37 farm, arts, prepared food, and youth vendors, including 13 new vendors. We enjoyed more kids' activities than ever before and a few musical celebrity appearances. Thank you for making it a wonderful season, and we hope to see you this Sunday! Read the newsletter>>>

Winter Squash: Sample & Stock Up this Saturday

(10/17/24) What better way to revel in the joys of autumn than a squash sampling? This Saturday at the Port Townsend Farmers Market (PTFM), you'll have the opportunity to do a side-by-side tasting of 12 varieties of winter squash. Plus, we're sharing cooking tips and recipe ideas gathered from Jefferson County Farmers Markets (JCFM) staff, volunteers, and vendors. Winter squash is packed with nutrients, fiber, and flavor and stores well for the winter. So come sample, stock up, and don't forget you can roast the seeds for a tasty snack or salad topper. Read the newsletter>>>

Harvest Happenings

(10/10/24) There's a lot in store this weekend, with fall festivities happening adjacent to both of our markets. On Saturday, next to the Port Townsend Farmers Market (PTFM), the East Jefferson Fire Rescue offers a full schedule of demonstrations, competitions, and family-friendly activities. Just a few blocks from the Market, it's an easy add to your Saturday stroll uptown. Read the newsletter>>>

Savor Fall Flavor + Chimacum Countdown

(10/3/24) Cooling weather, turning leaves, and waning sunlight invite a gentle exhale after the hustle and bustle of summer. With this transition comes a magical time at the Market when produce variety reaches its peak. It's the perfect time to gather food and friends to share in a homecooked meal like this week's recipe, Poblano Corn Chowder. Read the newsletter>>>

Recipe: Corn Poblano Chowder

Preserving Fall Abundance

(9/26/24) Eat Local Month continues through the end of this week. Though we pretty much consider market season to be one long local flavor celebration, we appreciate the opportunity to shine a light on some of the fantastic local offerings available at our markets. In the last couple of weeks, winter squash has been popping up at the Market while tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplants, and peppers remain plentiful. We've also got broccoli, cabbage, garlic, onions, and potatoes– everything you need as soup season sets in. Read the newsletter>>>

So Much Local to Eat for Eat Local Month 

(9/19/24) Friends, September is Eat Local Month, and there is a lot of local food to eat! Fresh foods, from string beans to cucumbers and carrots, zucchini and tomatoes, and oh so much more, are abundant this time of year. As daylight hours reduce and the cooler fall weather sets in, it is a great time to savor the flavors of our local produce. This week, while at the Port Townsend (PTFM) or Chimacum Farmers Market (CFM), consider bringing home extra food and inviting friends to make a meal or share soup. Read the newsletter>>>

September is Eat Local Month 

(9/12/24) Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has signed an official proclamation designating September as Eat Local Month. The proclamation encourages the recognition and celebration of the hardworking farmers, fishermen, and food producers that provide us with fresh, healthy, and sustainably-produced food. Read the newsletter>>>

Vendor Spotlight & Film Noir 

(9/5/24) The market bounty is so lush right now, vendors have to add extra bump-out tables to hold all the goodness. While summer flavors blend into fall abundance it's a great time to stock up and preserve your favorite foods by pickling, freezing, fermenting, canning, and dehydrating. Invite your friends and make a day of it! Read the newsletter>>>

Thanks to You, We Raised $33k!

(8/29/24) What a week we've had! Between the Tomato Taste-Off on Saturday and the Jefferson County Farmers Markets (JCFM) Benefit Dinner on Sunday, it was a busy and exciting weekend for our markets. First, we'd like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped make our benefit dinner a success this year. Thanks to you, we raised over $33,000. The first $15,000 directly supports our food access programs, providing nutritious food to children and adults experiencing food insecurity. Additional funds raised support our continued work hosting markets that build community and support agriculture and art as viable parts of our local economy. Read the newsletter>>>

It's the Great Tomato Taste-Off!

(8/22/24) Any way you slice it, August is pretty much the tastiest time of year at the farmers market... and this Saturday, we're slicing up over a dozen farm-grown tomatoes for you to try. Savor all the flavors and vote for your favorites! Then, if you're feeling inspired, pick up a flat of your favorite tomatoes and preserve them using this week's recipe, lacto-fermented salsa. Read the newsletter>>>

Music, Food, Art, Crafts...It's Uptown Street Fair

(8/15/24) Join us this Saturday, August 17th, for the 32nd annual Uptown Street Fair. Lawrence, Tyler, and Polk Streets will be bustling with vendors and activities as we celebrate Port Townsend's historic uptown. For this special uptown celebration, we shake up the market layout to make way for the Port Townsend Arts Guild Arts and Craft Fair on Tyler Street and music, food, and fun activities for the whole family on Lawrence Street. Please find our beloved farm vendors on Polk Street during our normal market hours, 9am-2pm. Read the newsletter>>>

National Farmers Market Week: the celebration continues

(8/8/24) We had so much fun celebrating National Farmers Market Week with all of you last Sunday at the Chimacum Farmers Market (CFM)! The festivities continue this Saturday, August 10, at the Port Townsend Farmers Market (PTFM) with a theater performance by Organic Seed Alliance and scavenger hunt fun for the whole family! Pick up your scavenger hunt instructions at the market info booth and return to the booth when you've finished to collect your "I❤️My Farmers Market" sticker or temporary tattoo. Read the newsletter>>>

Kicking off National FM Week Sunday + Big Blues 🫐

(8/1/24) This Sunday, the Jefferson County Farmers Markets join markets across the country in kicking off the 25th National Farmers Market Week (NFMW). We're celebrating on Sunday, August 4, at the Chimacum Farmers Market (CFM) with music and activities for people of all ages. Read the newsletter>>>

squashing the stigma around bugs and blemishes

(7/25/24) Market farmers are constantly battling one pest or another, everything from bugs to birds, and they work hard to do so in a way that keeps us and our environment safe.

"Pest issues are just as seasonal as the veggies they prey on.  Flea beetles, for instance, are at their worst in the summer months. So, if folks want to be in touch with local food and seasonal eating, embracing minor imperfections can deepen that connection to local growers and the challenges they face."  -Pierce, Soft Step Farm. Read the newsletter>>>

Berries and spice and everything nice

(7/18/24) The summer sun is bringing the bounty, with mulberries, currants, blueberries, cherry tomatoes, and hot peppers making their debut at the Market. 🍅🫐🌶️

We are so fortunate to live in an area abundant with local farms growing the food our community needs. Check out the Jefferson County Farmers Markets (JCFM) Farm-to-Table Benefit Dinner to learn how you can help us increase community access to these nutritious foods while also helping sustain our local farms. Read the newsletter>>>

Summer Heat & Cool Market Treats

(7/11/24) July is bringing the heat and a rainbow of incredibly fresh, locally-grown produce as our Jefferson County farms launch into peak production. While you're soaking up the sun, make sure you stay hydrated this weekend, snacking on water-rich market produce like strawberries, cucumbers, zucchini, snap peas, leafy greens, radishes, cabbage, and cauliflower. If you missed last week's tasting at the Port Townsend Farmers Market (PTFM), you really must try hakurei turnips, which are surprisingly sweet, tender, and satisfying as a raw snacking veggie. Read the newsletter>>>

Independence and Strength Through Connection

(7/4/24) Happy 4th of July! With the ratification of the Declaration of Independence, the United States was officially founded on July 4th, 1776. Today, as we celebrate the United States' independence from Great Britain, it is a great time to support independent businesses and reflect on our interdependence. Your local farmers markets are chock-full of independent small businesses, including youth vendors, this weekend at the CFM. However, it takes mutual support to sustain a vibrant local economy. Read the newsletter>>>

Vendor tales, Artful Adventures, & Early Bird Tickets Flying 🐦‍⬛

(6/27/24) A notable part of what makes farmers markets so special is the care and intention that vendors and farmers put into the goods they sell. From ethically sourcing seeds and materials to utilizing environmentally friendly processes to using eco-friendly packaging, Market vendors make choices every day that benefit our environment and our community. This month's vendor spotlight story, "Westwind Botanicals: Earth-Powered Artistry," is a beautiful illustration of the care and creativity that is poured into every product. Read the newsletter>>>