Despite slow start from cold spring, area farmers markets kick off season

In a weedy field near the downtown core, Tim Pellow set up his vegetable stand for the year’s first Spokane Farmers’ Market.

“It’s going to be a slow start with vendors,” he said, standing behind the register. “The crops are a little late this year. It’s been a pretty cold spring.”

Pellow grows and harvests vegetables in a 3-acre, certified-organic farm just outside of Davenport called Tolstoy Farms. He’s one of the many vendors at the Spokane Farmers’ Market at 20 W. Fifth Ave. It runs from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

“It feels good to be back,” he said.

Spokane holds a handful of farmers markets, including in Kendall Yards, South Perry Street, Fairwood and Emerson-Garfield.

The Spokane Farmers’ Market includes 26 vendors selling fruits, vegetables, honey, meat, eggs, mushrooms, mead, flowers and bread. Vendors accept credit, debit and EBT cards – or market workers are able to sell tokens for vendors who accept the tokens or cash only. The market runs through Oct. 30.

Melissa Click, along with her husband, Chip Callahan, and daughter Lane Callahan, were one of the first patrons to arrive at the market Saturday.

“I’m excited,” Click said. “I marked it on my calendar and I’ve been waiting.”

Click and her family bought asparagus, arugula, carrots and greens. Lane Callahan said her favorite thing about the market is the free samples some vendors hand out.

“I like it a lot,” she said, holding a few stalks of rhubarb that she plans on making into rhubarb crumble.