As springtime rolls into Bellingham, the town sees an uptick in community events and activities throughout the city, including the Bellingham Farmers Market, a weekly event featuring over a hundred booths of vendors, farmers and artisans.
Saturday markets were welcomed back to the on-season for the 33rd consecutive year on April 5, 2025. In the off-season, the Farmers Market only occurs on the third Saturday of each month from January through December.
On re-opening day, the market embraced a classic array of Bellingham locals, the whole block buzzing with engaged attendees including a large population of Western Washington University students.
The goal of the market team is to promote community and connection every weekend, according to Bellingham Farmers Market. The popular setting serves as a space for community members to gather together in support of local farms and small businesses. The Bellingham Farmers Market provides the community with healthy, sustainable local ingredients, freshly prepared food and handmade art.
“To have that experience is a little different from a grocery store where the goal is to have everything as standardized as possible, where in the farmers market we want everything as unique as possible,” said Colleen Donovan, executive director of the Washington State Farmers Market Association.
The culture fostered by the market plays a large role in drawing in customers and guests.
“We’re a super welcoming community, there is something in that if you don't have money to spend, you could still come down and spend time at the market and enjoy the buskers, people-watch and hang out,” said Chloe Knox, Bellingham Farmers Market director.
The market serves as a key outlet for Western students, a bridge between the school and city.
“Western is all about a sense of place. We live in this beautiful place and we're surrounded by this amazing environment, and we have all these great things going on in our community. I think the Bellingham Farmers Market is one of the highlights there,” Knox said.
The market doesn't just exist for profit, but for people too. The market team makes an active point of their inclusivity, and promotes food access for all.
Bellingham Farmers Market participates in several state and federal food assistance programs to serve the community, a facet that benefits students immensely. These programs include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), where recipients swipe their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards and are given market tokens to be used at eligible booths. Beyond that, the market will match each EBT dollar with Market Match Dollars dedicated to the purchase of fruits and vegetables. Sun Bucks is another program offered to students who receive summer EBT cards, following the same procedure.
“When the students come in, we see a huge influx in how many sales we do, and how much EBT we get,” said Marlo Fleek, the market lead for Cascadia Mushrooms, a regular market vendor.
SNAP benefits are available to any student who works 20 or more hours a week, students who have accepted work study or students who have dependents, according to the WWU Basic Needs Hub. The Market Match Dollars health incentive and SNAP benefits are accessible to eligible students and a valuable resource to those experiencing food insecurity.
“What’s interesting to see actually with the rising prices, the farmer’s market has become the cheaper option,” Fleek said.
There is no shortage of opportunities to participate in the farmers market process as a Western student, whether through volunteering or working directly with vendors, signing up to busk throughout the market or just passing through for ingredients, lunch or coffee.
“Some of our vendors tell us their top customer base is students,” Knox said. “Students may not make up the highest spend at the farmers market, but they are a huge customer base and they’re really important to us.”
Lynn Piefer (she/her) is a campus life reporter for The Front, she is a visual journalism major. Outside of her academics, Lynn is a practice player for the WWU club volleyball team, and a Lakewood Boathouse attendant. Beyond school, Lynn is typically found outside involved in some recreation activity or another, exploring Bellingham, or dropping in on events throughout town and campus. You can reach her at lynncpiefer.thefront@gmail.com.
