What a weekend it was – hope everyone survived and had a wonderful time. Between the market, Blues and Brews and the Car Show, 6,000 + people came to the waterfront and soaked up the sun and suds. We want to thank Wesley Homes and Puget Sound Brewery Tours for the use of their shuttles to help people get to the events. Now that peaches are finally here, along with blueberries, you can enjoy this great baked desert. Plumbs are also starting to be plentiful, so mix it up. You can download this week’s delicious recipe “Baked Peaches” by clicking here (PDF file). The market’s logo wear is very popular and every year we print up t-shirts with the current year’s poster art on the back. The art work is done by local artist Jenny Elliot. She graciously donates her time and talents to this endeavor. The t-shirts can be ordered at the Market Information Booth. All proceeds from the sales go to help run the market. Her rendition of last year’s poster was featured on the cover of the national Farmers Market Day Magazine earlier this year. For a $1 donation at the wine booth you can pick up this year’s poster signed by famous market companions Sonny & Cher. Jenny 2013 Poster Art Vendor Profile Sweet Coconut Bakery has been a market vendor for the last 4 years.  Owner Hazel Lao personally handcrafts all the cookies and candies. She has been a baker by trade for about a decade. A lot of her favorite treats growing up in the Philippines and California have been revamped to include the wonderful ingredients that she finds in the State of Washington, starting with the chocolate and coffee. Her list of products is ever-changing and growing as her mission is to create sweet treats that might induce you to sit down, maybe put your feet up, and enjoy a cup of coffee, cocoa, or tea. Let time tick slowly, as you would if you were on vacation on a tropical island, where coconuts abound, and life is sweet. When she is not at the market, you can order from their web site. Sweet Coconut1 Sweet Coconut2 Food Truck Scene Skinny Phoenix, Stella Fiore Pizza, Jemil’s Big Easy, will be there to tantalize your taste buds. Click on the names for their great menus.  If you have come across a food truck you think unique in your travels around the sound, send us an email with your suggestion. Music Des Moines resident, Paul Hall and the Saltwater Saints will be back this weekend. Paul said it is hard to get all the band members together at one time, as everyone is retired and traveling during the summer. Paul was a long time United Airline captain, retiring 15 years ago. Volunteer Group This week’s volunteer group is Melanie Dance Unlimited. It is a dance program operated through the City of Normandy Park and the City of Des Moines Recreation Centers. Miss Melanie, founder, began her teaching career 30 years ago as a teenager.  She earned recognition in talent competitions as well as college and local theatre.  Being a performer herself, she knew what it took, and decided to teach others how to make it happen. Their motto is “we don’t just teach dance, we create dancers.” Stop by their booth and check out their bake sale. Don’t forget the Des Moines Area Food Bank is still serving free summer lunches to all school age kids. Look for them from noon to 1pm in the grassy area next to the marina office. A child does not need to be a Highline Public School student to participate. Upcoming events This coming September 14th   is our annual Kids Back to School/Safety Day. Also it will be another Kids Fishing Derby. And, for all you food lovers, it is our first annual Food Truck-In with over 10 trucks offering a wide variety of entrees. Look for more information as this day draws near. Look for lots of stuff for kids to see and participate in. Applications are starting to roll in for our annual Chili Cook-Off on the last day of the market, October 26th. If you think you have the “right stuff” to compete against the 20 teams that will be mixing it up, click here for the application and cook-off rules. We expect the 20 positions will be filled soon, so don’t procrastinate.]]>

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2 replies on “Wanolitto's Musings for this Saturday's Des Moines Farmers Market”

  1. We bought some smoked salmon from the fish guy, and it was some of the best smoked salmon I have ever had!

  2. Our Farmer’s Market is nearly but not quite a replacement for the Waterland Festival we had come to love and populate. It does, however , seem to function as a “draw” for a crowd from outside Des Moines and that is good for us and our small business community. Each time we go there is something new and interesting added, as well as, something no longer there. What is mostly always there is community spirit and it is sad that it can’t go on all year.

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