The clock says it’s mid-day, but when I look outside I see otherwise.  The rain is getting to me.  I knew today was going to be dreary so I took full advantage of the highlight of my week yesterday.  The 6th avenue farmer’s market opened.  I miss the Downtown market since it is on Thursday mornings and I work while it is open.  I am generally done with work at 4:00 on Tuesdays so the 6th Ave market is perfect.  My husband, son (and dog) picked me up from work and we went to the market.

It threatened to rain, but the weather held the whole time we were there.  The face of the market is ever changing.  Now in its third year the 6th Avenue market is coming into its own.  They are rearranging things a bit and adding a little bit of diversity in the vendors.  There are a few more craft type vendors and a few new non-produce vendors.

We browsed our way down the market and purchased our way back.  I’m sad that I didn’t have the opportunity to catch the names of all of the booths I purchased from, but I did get some.  We purchased Asparagus and spring onions from the wonderful family that sits at the very back of the market.  I have been buying amazing produce from them for 4 years now and I still don’t know their names.  This year they have a new addition in the form of a 2 month old baby girl.  She is just as sweet as her mama and I can’t wait to watch her grow up.

I picked up smoked salmon from Rolf (always a must on a weekly basis) and was happy to hear that he’s on his way up to Alaska to catch more to sell “fresh” (it is flash frozen for transport).  Nothing better than fresh salmon on the grill in the summer.

Next we were pleased to see Vallhalla Coffee.  This is great because we love their coffee, but for some reason we forget to stop by their shop on 6th Ave to pick up beans.  What’s more is that I was tasked with buying good coffee for the nursery and I was going to get Stumptown at Satellite.  However, I did better than that.

We picked up dinner at Gateway to India (per our usual 1st day of the market tradition) and CJ greeted us with a giant smile.  The food was delicious as always.

I was happy to see that Tahoma Farms had a booth right in a prominent place.  This is good so that we can pick up the items offered in the Terra Organics boxes on the off weeks (or at least what Tahoma grows).

My husband is a huge local honey eater.  He has had peanut butter and honey toast nearly every morning for the past 7 years (maybe longer).  In the off season we purchase our honey at Tacoma Boys or H&L.  During the market season we purchase it from whomever is selling it at the time.  The last bottle we purchased was at the Proctor market the day before Mother’s Day.  It crystalized quickly and I wasn’t impressed.  My husband was running out so he was happy to see Sweet As Can Bee Honey at the 6th Ave market.  They had samples of all of their offerings and I love it when honey vendors do that.  We walked away with a bottle of vanilla honey and a jar of cinnamon creamed honey.  It was the only purchase we used our debit card on (typically we only spend $40 in cash at the market.  it is our way of not overspending).

Our last stop was at a small booth selling tomato plants and greens.  I am fully stocked on tomato plants and I am no longer allowed to even look at them, but greens… I could eat my weight in greens.  I have a crisper drawer full of braising mix and kale so I didn’t need that, but this little vendor had a little green which I’d never heard of.  I don’t know how to spell it, but is like a raab of some sort although not quite a raab.  It can be eaten raw or cooked and tastes delicious.

I was happy with the selection of the market on opening day.  I wish there were more people, but with the weather being so bad I’m not surprised.  I will continue to support the 6th Ave market as long as it is open.  I’ve missed you market season… it’s been a long winter.