By MICHAEL WHITNEY
Published May 30, 2012

Everett Farmers Market opens Sunday, June 3
EVERETT - The Everett Farmers Market opens Sunday, June 3 with new owners and plenty to offer.
The market on West Marine View Drive features a full slate of fresh produce, nursery plants and craft vendors. The market runs rain or shine from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Sunday now to Oct. 7.
Life partners Karen Erickson and Gary Purves took over the market in March from retiring owners Inger and Tone Hutton. The two are familiar with farmers markets: Erickson has managed the Snohomish Farmers Market for years.
“Good food, good music, good fun and good friends” is how Purves describes the market atmosphere.
The core of the farmers market is local food from around Puget Sound. There are about 80 farmers and meat producers lined up to come, offering fruits, vegetables, berries, jellies, organically raised beef and fish. Most of the farmers grow their food in Snohomish and Skagit counties.
There will be about 40 artisan and craft vendors. This year’s ready-to-eat food vendors include Whidbey Island Ice Cream and Snohomish’s Hawaiian Paradice Shave Ice.
A local musician will add sound to the market each week.
The musicians “add to the ambience of the market,” Purves said. Singer-songwriter Ali Marcus will be there June 3 for opening day. To see who’s playing each week, go to the market’s website at www.everettfarmersmarket.net and click on the “Music” header.
The market is always fun rain or shine, Purves said.
“It’s more like a celebration than a grocery store trip,” Purves said.
While there are new owners, much of the market will stay the same. The market will be able to provide microbrewery and hard cider tastings through a pilot program with the state Liquor Control Board. The market doesn’t have any alcohol sellers lined up yet as of last week, Purves said.
Low on cash? The market will keep its token exchange program that lets people buy market tokens with a credit card or EBT food stamp card to use at vendors who only take cash.
Erickson and Purves, who live in the nearby Port Gardner Neighborhood, took over the market because they’ve enjoyed running the Snohomish Farmers Market on Thursdays. When the Huttons looked to retire, Erickson and Purves jumped at the chance to run the Everett market. The transition has been in the works for a year now.
“We like getting involved in the community,” Purves said.
The market is ramping up its online presence with regular Facebook, Twitter and blog updates, Purves said.
The market season attracted about 90,000 people last year to its spot next to Lombardi’s, Purves said.
It’s too early to gauge how many people will come this year, Purves said.
To see what’s available at the Everett Farmers Market, go online to www.everettfarmersmarket.net. You can check them out on Facebook by searching for Everett Farmers Market.