Dozens of ripened pumpkins, dried corn and green gourds lined Ceres Farms' booth at the Community Farmers Market in Chehalis last Tuesday.
Grower Katherine Humphrey said she brought these telltale signs of autumn to the market's last day because the farm's season for green beans and sweet corn was over.
"I just love pumpkins. It's kind of a thing," she said of the 26 varieties she grows.
Impressed with the number of customers who filtered through the market's first season, Humphrey said she hoped to return next summer.
"We've had a really good group of regulars, which is important, I think, for a market to be successful," Humphrey said.
And according to the president of Community Farmers Market board, Mike Peroni, there will be a next year.
"Without a doubt," he said. "This season has been fantastic, well beyond our expectations. "
From early July until last Tuesday, 14 vendors sold their wares each Tuesday afternoon along Boistfort Square in downtown Chehalis. The vendors, with offerings ranging from organic produce to locally produced cheese, were solicited by the market's sponsor, the Washington State University Lewis County Extension Office, according to Peroni.
Studying Humphrey's pumpkins, Marianne Finrow of Chehalis, said, regrettably, that last week was only her third visit to the market.
"I came down because I heard it was the last day. I've tried to buy something from everyone on each (visit)," Finrow said of the vendors. "But I'm upset that the Bread Lady doesn't have any of those peanut butter cookies. I always arrive too late."
Inspired by her success selling her freshly baked goods of biscuits, cookies and cinnamon rolls on Fridays and Saturdays at the Lewis County Farmers Market in Centralia, The Bread Lady's owner, Carol Vier, said she decided to spend her Tuesdays in Chehalis.
"I have a lot of repeat customers, asking for their favorites or trying something new," Vier said.
Manning the Shoots and Flowers booth, Eric Kenney of Oakville admitted he wasn't sure what to expect from the Chehalis market when he opted to participate in July.
"I'm totally new at this, and business has been OK — not super good, but OK," he said of the number of customers buying the perennials and bamboo grown on his 16 acre-Oakville farm.
Remembering to keep the salad greens out of the midday sun will be on Carol Thomas's list of ways to improve next season's business at her Sweet Brier Herb Garden booth.
"I'll work on making the display more attractive," Thomas said of her array of herbs, medicinal salves and vegetables.
"This is my first year as a farmer. I'm going to learn how to do this better," Thomas said.
Having served three years as an apprentice at Independent Valley Farms, Joseph Gabiou ventured on his own this season under the name Wobbly Cart Farms. Renting and cultivating an acre of land from Independence Valley, Gabiou sold his vegetables at both the farmers market in Olympia and the one in Chehalis.
"(Chehalis) gave me a midweek outlet," he said.
Carrots sold by the bunch had been one of the late season's more popular items, according to Gabiou.
"They're nice and sweet now, especially after the frost," he said, adding that the farm's Rochester location also benefited from the nutrients of the Chehalis River Valley.
With plans to expand into a community-supported agriculture business, Gabiou said he was also optimistic about the future of the Community Farmers Market.
"This could be a good market, if they can get grocers to keep coming back, and it seems like it's happening," he said.
Robin McGinnis covers business issues for The Chronicle. She may be reached at 807-8231, or by e-mail at rmcginnis@chronline.com.
