Community Post

At the Madrona Market

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The CDNews took a lovely afternoon walk to the opening day of the Madrona Market in the Grocery Outlet (cdnews sponsors) parking lot at MLK & Union.

Here’s what all is available today:

0 thoughts on “At the Madrona Market”

  1. It was sooo nice out there today, and we got the kinds of good stuff that we now look forward to, every Friday, for the whole summer.

    Great to see you and Ray and the CD News Hound there, too! (And, yeah, you busted us: I think we’ll be walking the mile from Madison Valley, instead of driving, from now on!)

  3. Not to be a big downer, y’all. But I was there at 2:10pm or so, trying to shop at Grocery Outlet. There were signs saying “Drive here to park!” and cones forcing one in that direction. Then there were 3 women standing in the lane we were all being directed in to. One kept wandering back and forth on her cell, and the other 2 stood there chatting. All 3 were associated with the Farmer’s market. Finally one of them said to me, “Oh, you’re PARKING?” (vs. unloading produce, I assume) yet still stood in front of my car – while mine and 3 other cars attempted to park, trapped in the Go here!” lane we’d been directed to. Same scenario upon leaving. I had to get out of my car and ask them to move, while the person next to me just laid on the horn. Hey, the Farmer’s market is great, but good grief – middle aged white ladies in Berkenstocks – in a parking lot have some idea of your surroundings, and the fact that not EVERYONE there is unloading produce!

  4. I absolutely love the direction the market is going… so many great vendors and choices and my favorites are back. My only complaint is that the lot gets so hot and I wish there were more shady spaces for people to sit and rest, eat, and commune. Even if it was just a smallish tent with some folding chairs under it in the back corner. It would be a huge improvement. I don’t know why this farmer’s market seems so much hotter in the summertime than the others.

  5. I do love this market, being nearby and all. But don’t try to sell me apples in May (or any time before September) Seriously? Your apples are cold storage, same as everyplace else….fresh fruit, vegies, etc = awesome!! but sorry…apples in may are 8 months past their prime. Same as some of the other produce…. be aware of what you’re buying. (I also take issue with the huge growers that sell insinuating they are small, local farmers… ie, Tiny’s from Cashmere.

  6. And the prices? Yikes. I hate to join the broken-record crowd, but when everything new to the neighborhood is hip-thus-pricey (think, every new business north of Yesler lately), it doesn’t promote a very diverse community.

  7. While they don’t raise fruit, if you’re interested in small local produce at fair prices, the Clean Greens Farm & Market project is happening again this year. You can sign up for a CSA or come to the market.

  8. If it’s any consolation, in the past couple years, parking management tended to get a bit better after the first week of the market. The first day is consistently more scattered, imho.

  9. Bring it on, I am ready for my $5 organic heirloom tomatoes and $4 baguettes!

  12. While I enjoy the feel of some of the neighborhood farmer’s markets, I like the Clean Greens stand even more. Good fresh food, there it is on the table , buy it. And affordable. This past spring I attended a “meet the farmer and this is how it works” gathering and was impressed by whst they are doing. Nothing glossy, just hard work, seasonal food and sharing. Go to their website.

  13. The Madrona market is nice, but if you want more affordable stuff (limited choices, of course) you really should check out Clean Greens. If you want to know more about where your food comes from, you can volunteer a Saturday to go out to the actual Clean Greens farm and help get the work done that needs to be done. It’s an excellent experience and you can’t get much more hands on with your food unless you grow it yourself.

  15. Daved … I think you should set up a booth next friday and give away dollars. That would make your food even more expensive and, it appears, more enjoyable to you. No, just kidding. I really appreciate all your insights.

    I made the mistake yesterday of buying some old artisan apples (lesson learned)and a tasty but uninspiring pizza.

  16. Daved – Ha@that link.

    And no, not racist, just describing the women blocking my car.

  18. I didn’t go and and from looking at the pics, I’m kind of glad I didn’t. They wanted $10 for those puny flowers???

  19. nice to see everyone agree on something for once–yes the madrona and ballard “farmer’s markets” are way expensive and consumers are often misled on what they are buying. Its amazing that the wed night columbia city market has lower prices with some of the same vendors. $5 brownies and baguettes are kinda a joke, no matter if they are all organic or whatever–i love organic food of course but i am not buying a $5 brownie.

    Its been interesting watching the neighborhood change–the nearly all-white (vendors and consumers) Madrona Market (couldn’t a better home other than a hot asphalt oil-stained parking lot have been found) is an indicator of this. The idea of buying stuff direct is a good goal, but the model of the Seattle Farmer’s Markets is truly an economically unsustainable one.

    I’ll 2nd the Clean Greens suggestions–they are doing it right!

  20. Does the Clean Greens stand have more produce? I realize it’s a bit early in the season but I was disappointed on Friday that the only actual produce for sale was the afore-mentioned apples and potatoes. The soaps, jewelry, etc. are a nice addition but I was hoping to actually pick up some food and instead went home empty-handed.

  22. “economically unsustainable one”

    Yes it is sustainable, farmer’s markets across Seattle are thriving and turning away vendors. I went to the one in Ballard last week, you could barely squeeze through withe the crowds.

    “the nearly all-white”

    …and that’s a problem because…..?