By Jeff and Eileen Bidwell

As we were setting up our Plant Answer Clinic around 9:00 a.m. one Sunday morning in late summer, we spotted a group of people standing a few feet from us, watching in amazement at the scene unfolding before their eyes.

Actually, the transformation of Ballard Avenue had begun several hours earlier. The revelers from the hot nightclubs had disappeared to wherever night folk disappear to, leaving the street in silence. As the sun rose on the horizon, silhouettes began stirring on the street, pulling tables, signs, equipment, crates and boxes from the back of work trucks. By mid-morning, the transformation of Ballard Ave. was nearly complete. Judy and Loretta, the Market managers, had arrived at daybreak. Like stage directors, they directed the vendors to their assigned spaces. When the bell at Bergen Place rang promptly at 10:00 a.m., the stage was set and the day-long play was set in motion.

The same scene takes place every Sunday, rain or shine, in spring, summer, fall and winter. For more than ten years, the Ballard Farmers’ Market has been a bustling, year-round hub of activity.

But it wasn’t always that way. At one time it wasn’t even considered a Farmers’ Market, only a section of the Fremont Market dedicated to the sale of produce grown by local farmers. Its first Ballard home was the former U.S. Bank parking lot at 22nd NW and NW 56th. Around the holidays, many of the vendors moved indoors to the site of the former Safeway nearby.

The parking lot later became the Ballard Library and Safeway became Ballard Commons. After a few years, the bank moved, and, since the relationship with Safeway was contentious, the market was in need of a new home.

Enter Ballard Avenue. For the first year, the market set up every Sunday between 22nd NW and Market Street. It then moved to its current location and permanent home, between Vernon Street NW and 22nd.

Although there were plants and produce for sale in the early days, the market still wasn’t considered an authentic farmers’ market….yet. The Ballard Sunday Market still lacked enough participating local farmers to achieve this designation.

Perseverance and persistence eventually trumped politics, and before our Master Gardener clinic joined the market in 2007, it was officially named “Ballard Farmers’ Market.” Since that time, we have seen the market grow in size and stature. Our local market boasts more than 75 vendors selling healthy, locally produced organic foods and handmade craft items.

The Best In the West

Farmers Markets are usually the heart of a community, and Ballard is no exception. But did you know that the Ballard Farmers’ Market is one of the nation’s best?

In the annual poll conducted by American Farmers’ Trust, our local market was voted 4th best large market in the country in 2010. And this year, it was voted the very best market in the western states!

Market Fare

It’s 10:00 a.m., and the Bergen Place bell signals the market to open. Early customers are slowly sauntering from stall to stall, enjoying the abundance of the harvest season, the luminous colors, luscious fragrances, and festive sounds.

At the NW Vernon entrance near the new Hotel Ballard, Dante’s Inferno serves up their famous hot dogs and great Phillie favorites. At Dante’s neighbor Whidbey Island Ice Cream, proprietors Ron and Florence tempt market goers with at least 50 delicious, home made flavors. Closer to the hotel, follow the long line to Verace Pizza, which offers piping hot, delicious gourmet and traditional pizza by the slice.

To further indulge your sweet tooth, visit the old fashioned doughnut stand near the 22nd Avenue entrance for “Market Minis” hot from the grill. Marie and Rick will be seeing you often, since the tiny cinnamon flavored discs are oh, so addicting. Drifting along, your sweet tooth will once again be tempted by Little Prague Bakery, where owner Jeri sells European baked specialties, including his special Christmas bread.

For heartier appetites, Carrie and Destiny serve Anita’s Crepes, and Debra dishes up Patty Pan’s famous quesadillas.

If you want to warm up from the cold, historic Ballard Avenue is lined with many shops that keep their doors open on Sundays for market shoppers, who compliment the myriad of artisans and craftspeople who blend fragrances, make children’s clothes and fine jewelry for those on you holiday gift lists.

With your stockings filled, your appetite satisfied, and a java jolt supplied by the coffee house and pastry shops on the street, it’s time to think about holiday gatherings. The market offers a magnificent array of fresh, locally grown and made specialty items in one location.

At Deb’s Pies, Deb uses Northwest fruits and berries for her unique and delicious homemade pies. Wine from Lopez Island Vineyards and cider from Rock Red Orchards and Cidery pair well with cheese from Mt. Townsend Creamery, Silver Springs Creamery of Linden, or Golden Glen Creamery of Bow, Washington, where cheese is handcrafted by the Jensen ladies.

Midway through the market, two local Ballard bakeries, Tall Grass and Grateful Bread, offer fine organic baked goods. For holiday candy bowls, visit Pete’s Best Toffee and Jon Boy Caramels. Pete offers yummy free samples of all his home made toffees.

Local honey is the best for baked holiday treats or delectable gifts. Taste the variety of sweet samples offered by Ben Herrera of Tahuga Apiaries and Tom at Golden Harvest Bee Ranch. And the hot sauces from Zack and Zane’s and Julie at Four Sisters will surely help take the chill off our Northwest winters.

Organic meat, poultry and seafood vendors include clear Valley Farms of Marysville, Sea Breeze of Vashon Island, Skagit Valley Ranch, Samish Bay beef and Pork, Olsen Farms of Colville, Stokesberry Sustainable Farm, Hama Hama Seafood and Shellfish of Lilliwaup, Wilson Fish, and Loki Fish.

A truly unusual find is Foraged and Found Edibles, where Jeremy sells the best in Northwest mushrooms. And no trip to the market is complete without visiting Pastaria Luccese, where you can take home the finest handcrafted pasta and sauces.

Last but not least, don’t forget to take home a colorful winter bouquet from one of the market’s many flower sellers to adorn your holiday table.

Fall and winter mean weekly vendor scheduling changes, so you may see some new faces replacing vendors whose seasons have ended. Stop by and find some unexpected surprises.

Finally, a big salute to all the market’s hard working farmers, many of whom travel long distances to offer their fine produce to the Ballard community every week.

This is our final column for 2011. We wish all of our neighbors a joyous, healthy, safe and relaxing holiday season. Enjoy your winter shopping experience at Ballard Farmers’ Market, and we’ll see you at the Market next spring.

Jeff and Eileen Bidwell are King County Master Gardeners and long-time Ballard residents. You can find the Master Gardener Plant Answer Clinic at the Ballard Sunday Farmers Market every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., May 1st through September 25th. Read past articles, here.