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  3 0 Because they're farmers markets, not craft fairs. I'm the first one to say I prefer the mixed markets, like Ballard, that have food producers AND crafts. But I go there for the food, and I like to see the majority of the vendors selling that. I think most customers do. But I do have to disagree with the person who said crafts vendors were crowding out the food vendors. The big markets--the ones that have all the vendors they can hold, and a waiting list besides--generally have a quota on non-food vendors, so nobody is taking anybody's space. They will never have more than a limited percentage of craft vendors. And a lot of the smaller markets are doing good to have the handful of vendors they have--nobody is crowding anyone out because they aren't turning anybody away. marymc answered in Farmers Markets & Eating Local about 1 year ago | Report 2 comments by siri and marymc… 0 0 Actually, there are farmers who would like to sell at the Ballard market but are kept out, even while candle, clothing and jewelry vendors are still there. siri commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 Like I said--markets like Ballard have decided they WANT a mix..They have a percentage of spaces set aside for farm produce vendors, and a percentage for non-food vendors. Farmers compete against other farmers for those spaces, artists against artists for theirs. Craft vendors aren't taking farmers' spaces. There are probably craft vendors who are kept out because their quota is full, too. (And that vacant lot off the street at the Ballard market, where there are always several craft vendors, a psychic, etc.? That's not officially part of the Ballard market. They rent those spaces from the owner of that property. Totally separate deal.) marymc commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

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  4 0 Not all Seattle open markets are exclusively for farms/produce, etc. Check out Ballard's Sunday market-most of the sellers are farms, but there are also small food manufacturers/producers (honey, baked items) and some crafts. Also, just because you're not invited doesn't mean you're discriminated against. The farmers market organizers probably wouldn't let a chiropractor set up a free check-your-crooked-spine booth either. It's a market for farmers, not an everyone-but-crafters market. Luckier answered in Farmers Markets & Eating Local about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

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  10 1 As a farmers market customer, I have to say that I go there for farm produce, not crafts. Crafts just take up space that should be filled with food. Neighborhood markets are small enough as it is, without giving up all the food space. Note that I'm old and thus associate market-stall crafts with horrible bong-and-tooled-leather-belt stinky-hippie crafts, not the modern wave of Etsy-styled punk rock crafts, which are perhaps not quite as irritating. But still, I think they need their own venues. Fnarf answered in Farmers Markets & Eating Local about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Rev.Enant… 0 0 I'd add that they HAVE their own venues, many, inlcuding the fawking PIKE PLACE MARKET already. Rev.Enant commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

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  14 0 The NFMA's mission has always been to to support Washington’s small farms by providing effective direct sales sites (farmers markets), and by educating consumers about local farm products and the benefits of buying direct from local farmers. Ultimately, we exist to help make sure that our small local farms continue to exist. We are certainly not opposed to local artist and I think, as individuals, we all appreciated them, but it is simply not our focus as an organization to support them. We are lucky to have enough local food producers to fill our market sites and already have to turn away quite a few each year for lack of space. Craft markets can be great community events for artists and consumers alike, but serve a different purpose than our food markets. Kira answered in Farmers Markets & Eating Local about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

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