Submitted by the San Juan Island Farmers Market
Come celebrate the 37th year of the SJI Farmers Market and help us kick off the beginning of high market season on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26.
That’s right, the farmers’ market will be open both Saturday and Sunday this Memorial Day weekend. In fact, the market will be open both Saturday and Sunday on July 6 and 7 (for the Fourth of July Holiday) and Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 (for the Labor Day Holiday).
Under the leadership of the Farmers’ Market Board of Directors and new Market Manager, Samantha DeChristopher, we are making a number of changes at the market to enhance your market experience.
New Hours
Hearing from local residents that they would like to shop before the market gets too busy, the new opening time for the market will be one-half hour earlier, at 9 a.m. For those who can’t get to the Market early, we will stay open an additional half hour, with a new closing time of 1:30 p.m.
Simplifying the Calendar
The Farmers’ Market will be open with these new hours of operation every Saturday, April through October.
The Farmer’s Market will also be open with these new hours of operation the first and third Saturday of each month, for the
Hunger and food insecurity are serious issues on San Juan Island and in the County. Through the leadership of the Nourish to Flourish Coalition, in an effort to end hunger on San Juan Island, the Fresh Bucks program is starting up again on Memorial Day weekend, at the SJI Farmers’ Market.
Individuals/families who are at or below 200% of the Federal poverty level, will receive $40 in Fresh Bucks (script) each Farmers’ Market Day, to purchase locally grown, raised and/or caught meat, fish, fresh produce, fruit, dairy, eggs, bread and seeds, and plants which produce food. $80 in Fresh Bucks is available per eligible individual/family, over the Memorial Day weekend.
Anyone who attests to being at or below 200% of the Federal poverty level or who qualifies for SNAP, WIC or other food security programs is eligible. Applications can be made online at https://forms.gle/bs5ZCMw3xirjdpeSA, or at the Family Resource Center, Health Department, or the SJI Farmers’ Market.
The seed money for the start-up of Fresh Bucks 2024 has come from generous contributions by the Soroptimists of Friday Harbor, the Mullis Community Senior Center, and the SJI Farmers’ Market. The program would not work but for the leadership of Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center (fiscal agent) and the work of Kristen Rezabek at the San Juan County Health Department.
If you would like to donate to the Fresh Bucks program, you can give through the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center or through the Nourish to Flourish website www.nourishtoflourishwa.org. Every dollar donated goes to provide fresh locally grown, raised, and/or caught food to Islanders in need.
Vendors
The SJI Farmers’ Market Board and Samantha DeChristopher have been working hard to attract new farmers to the market, to increase the presence at the Market of established farmers, and to bring new food vendors as well as juried crafters and artists to the Market. Come say hello to old friends and make new ones. Hope to see you on May 25 and May 26.
