The Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market continued to escape the rain last Saturday. I kept looking south at the dark clouds coming our way but, after bowing to the wind genie they went over to our neighbors on Vashon. New fruits of the season are showing up every Saturday, so if you’re a home canner, check out the fresh peaches, apricots and nectarines and your favorite veggies. And, if you like to cook Cajon style, check out the fresh okra at the Maharika Farm booth on the far East aisle of the market. We always like to feature vendors that are from Des Moines and the surrounding area. Emily’s Handmade Soaps is a good example. The handmade small batch soaps are by Emily Davis, a longtime resident of Des Moines. This is her second year at our market and she commented that this market is her favorite by far. She uses vegan-focused ingredients and includes combinations of oils, butters, earth clays, and other botanical ingredients to enhance your daily bathing ritual. While the purpose of soap is to clean you, Emily’s Handmade Soaps endeavors to make nature-inspired soaps that are lovely to look at, sensational to smell, and add a little luxury to your daily routine. Stop by her booth and say hello and clean up….. New Vendors this season: Also a new food truck has joined us this season. Get ready pie fans for A Fire Inside Pizza. They create their pizzas using only fresh dough, never frozen. Each one is made to order with fresh ingredients and baked in a 750° degree wood fired pizza oven, using only 100% Apple wood. No gas, no electricity. The only way to eat pizza! And, you can get it by the slice. YUM!! Get ready for the sun this Saturday and try new vendor Soda Jerk and their delicious handmade exotic fresh sodas. They are environmentally friendly, made from the finest ingredients possible. Before opening the owner, Cory Clark, spent months developing recipes, refining processes, sourcing ingredients, and tasting sodas. The results of all that hard work are the unique, tasty refreshments he offers today. Need soup, this new vendor you have to try. Sara Becca’s Soups mission is to help everyone enjoy the experience of cooking a restaurant quality product for friends and family whether you are a great cook or not. Music – Notables Food Trucks – A Fire Inside, Kabob & Kabob, Kiss My Grits, & Sweet Bumpas Community Groups – MaST & King County Noxious Weed The Wednesday night Sunset Markets are under way. They are every Wednesday in July and August from 4 to 8pm. There will be food trucks, farms and lots of goodies. Then you can stroll over to the Beach Park for the free music in the park series brought to you by the Des Moines Art Commission Attention seniors (55 and older), when you shop at the market, check in at the information both to see if you qualify for our Healthy Eating Initiative. Once you sign up you can receive a $10 voucher to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from our local farmers for every market day (Sat & Wed) throughout the season. The other healthy eating initiative is for low income families called Fresh Bucks. Come to the market, swipe your EBT card and it will double your dollars (up to $10) per person. Both of these programs are good for Saturday and Wednesday markets. Don’t forget The Des Moines Area Food Bank “Picnic in the Park” free summer lunch program for all school age kids. Look for them from noon to 1pm in the grassy area next to the marina office. And if you can’t wait until noon, they will serve free snacks from 10 to 10:30am. A child does not need to be a Highline Public School student to participate. They will be here every Saturday until school starts. If you would like to volunteer to help with this program, contact the Food Bank 206-878-2660. There is still space for our Clutter 2 Cash sale this coming July 23rd. Click to download an application. Seniors don’t forget the market and the King Conservation District, with partner Sound Generations, are offering the HYDE Shuttle providing local door to door transportation to and from the market for seniors 55 and older and people with disabilities of all ages living in Des Moines, Normandy Park, Burien and Sea-Tac. Call 206-727-6262 to schedule a ride. Every Wednesday thru August – Sunset Market/Concerts in the Park
- July 22-24 – Waterland Festival Activities.
- July 23 – Clutter to Cash Sale at the market
- August 6 – Health & Fitness Day
- August 20 – Pancake Breakfast