From top to bottom, left to right: Fresh flowers bring the glories of autumn into your home. Rising River Farms is one vendor at the Olympia Farmers Market with gorgeous fall produce. Skokomish Valley Farms’ JJ Neville loves the cheddar cauliflower. Steve Furr, of Burnt Ridge Nursery, can assist with selecting the right trees or ground cover for your home. Photo credits: Mary Ellen Psaltis. Cosmic Crisp apples from The Fresh Approach and roasted chicken from Riverbird Farm.

By Mary Ellen Psaltis for Thurston Talk and the Olympia Farmers Market

What are your fall favorites? From soup to nuts, the Olympia Farmers Market has your back! Are you hoping for apples to cover with caramel, late summer corn or a selection of potted plants to transplant in your yard? Summer has not fully said goodbye, but it's fading to be replaced with the autumnal glories of chrysanthemums, dahlias and fall produce. High season continues through the end of October, with the Market open Thursday – Sunday. After October, the Olympia Farmers Market will be open on Saturdays and Sundays for the holiday season.

Embrace the flavors of autumn at the Olympia Farmers Market this week! Dive into the season's delights with freshly harvested apples and pears from Sullivan’s Homestead, The Fresh Approach, and Burnt Ridge Nursery, perfect for crafting delectable pies, apple sauces, and sweet-savory roasts. Explore a diverse array of apple varieties, including Cosmic Crisp, Sunrise Magic, and Pinova, along with a dozen more options awaiting your discovery.

But that's not all! Our farm vendors have stacked the market with kiwi berries, grapes, plums, nuts, acorn squash, delicata squash, kale, sweet peppers, eggplant, radishes, leafy greens, and much more. Elevate your culinary creations by pairing your favorite fall ingredients with succulent roasted chicken from Riverbird Farm or flavorful pork chops from Chehalis Valley Farm. It's time to savor the essence of fall with a bountiful feast of market-fresh goodness!

Here's what's fresh this week at the Market:

apples

arugula

basil

bell peppers

bok choy

broccoli

cabbage (green)

carrots

cauliflower

cilantro

corn

cucumbers

dill

edible flowers

eggplant

garlic

grapes

green onions

kale

kiwi berries

kohlrabi

leeks

melon

microgreens

mushrooms

onions

patty pan squash

parsley

peppers

peaches

pears

pie pumpkins

plums

potatoes

radishes

scallions

spinach

squash

tomatoes

zucchini

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming "Market Harvest Celebration" on Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This exciting event promises a day of family-friendly fun, featuring trick-or-treating from Market vendors, fall activities, and cooking demonstrations using Market produce.

The Market Harvest Celebration is the perfect opportunity for community members of all ages to revel in the autumn spirit while supporting local farmers and artisans. The event will take place at the Olympia Farmers Market, located at 700 Capitol WayN, Olympia, WA 98501 and promises a delightful array of activities and treats.

Highlights of the MarketHarvest Celebration include:

Trick or Treating from Market Vendors: Gather your friends and family and come dressed in your Halloween best! Our Market vendors will provide tasty treats and small surprises for children of all ages as they explore the market.

Cooking Demonstrations: Enjoy live cooking demonstrations, showcasing seasonal ingredients sourced directly from the market. Learn new recipes and cooking tips to make the most of your fall harvest.

• SNAP-Ed will be hosting a pan-roasted winter squash cooking demonstration. SNAP-ED is a federally funded program that aims to implement nutrition education to promote healthy food choices and physical activity. Part of how they do this is by providing education on cooking healthy meals. There are so many varieties of winter squash at the Market to try all season long!
• Market Vendor Earthling Food Company will be hosting a toasted pumpkin seed cooking demonstration. Earthling Food Company is well known for their vegan and gluten-free granola, seasoning mixes, and their toasted pepita snacks. During the demonstration, learn how to save the seeds from your pumpkin and transform them into a savory fall snack! 

Fall Activities: We have some fun activities planned for you!

• The Harvest-themed Photobooth. Pose in front of the Harvest Photobooth to capture memories of the day.
• Market-tote Decorating Station. Visit the Market outreach table to decorate a reusable shopping tote bag (while supplies last).
• Guess the Weight of the Market Pumpkin. From Thursday, October 20 through Sunday, October 29, visit the Market and tell us how big you think the Market pumpkin is. Whoever guesses the correct weight (or closest to it) will win $50 Market tokens, a Market hat, and will win the pumpkin itself! Pumpkin is grown by Market Vendor, Maisy Moon Farm. 

Attention Market Shoppers 55 and Better!

Make the most of your Thursdays and stop by the Olympia Farmers Market! Many vendors offer exclusive discounts to seniors on Senior Thursdays from April through October.

Look out for a sign in participating vendor's booths and enjoy savings on your favorite products. It's a great opportunity to get fresh, locally-grown produce and support local businesses at the same time!

Each Thursday, you can enter the weekly Market Raffle to win items created by Market Vendors. This week, enter to win an 11x14 Wood Cutting Board from Twisted Twigster!

Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity!

Experience the joy of a flavorful lunch at the Olympia Farmers Market. Satisfy your cravings with Soba! From April through December, every Market day is a culinary adventure. Delight in their irresistible yakisoba, freshly crafted spring rolls, and savory chicken cabbage salads, among a tempting array of offerings. Don't miss out on the spring rolls – they're a hot commodity, flying off the shelves daily!

Thursday, October 19

Smoocho Gusto

Friday, October 20

The Broken G-Strings

Saturday, October 21

Susan Tuzzolino Quartet

Sunday, October 22

Carl Tosten

will be playing on the Main Stage from 11:00 am - 2 pm.

Learn more here.

We're thrilled to introduce the newest addition to the Olympia Farmers Market team, Jason Huang!

“Hey there, I'm Jason Huang, and I've worn quite a few hats in my professional journey so far. My background is rooted in marketing and communications, event planning, and operations management. But before all that, I proudly served in the Marines, which gave me the incredible opportunity to explore and experience the world. My passion lies in marketing, curating memorable events, and helping local small businesses thrive and succeed. I have a strong belief that small businesses are the genuine foundation of America, and I'm delighted to become a part of the Olympia Farmers Market team. I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and contribute my diverse skill set to this incredible community. Let's grow and succeed together!”

As our new Operations Manager, Jason is eager to roll up his sleeves and contribute his unique skill set to help our community thrive and succeed. Let's join together in welcoming Jason to the Olympia Farmers Market family and look forward to a future of growth and success!

The SNAP Market Match Program is a collaboration between the Olympia Farmers Market and the Washington State Department of Health, thanks to funding from the State of Washington.

Use your EBT card at the Market Office and receive up to $25 in additional bucks to spend on fresh fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and edible plant starts. We match up to $25 SNAP Bucks per day when you redeem $25 off your EBT card.

Learn more here.

Many of our vendors gladly accept Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) benefits. This program, funded by the USDA and the State of Washington, aims to provide low-income seniors with fresh, unprocessed fruits, veggies, and herbs while boosting awareness and sales at farmers markets.

Keep an eye out for the WIC & Senior sign at participating vendor booths. Please note, these benefits cannot be exchanged for cash, and no change will be provided. Remember, SFMNP checks expire at the end of October, so be sure to use them before then! However, the WIC Fruit and Vegetable Incentive can be used year-round.

FMNP vendors currently selling at the Market:

• Cedar Slope Farm
• Constellation Farm
• Fresh Approach
• Maisy Moon Farm
• Roots and Fruits Farm
• Burnt Ridge Orchards
• Skokomish Valley Farms
• Rising River Farm Inc
• Skook River Farms
• Little Big Farm
• Skipping Stone Garden