Tenino Farmers Market Returns for Season

Posted

The 19th annual Tenino Farmers Market opened on May 6, welcoming  hundreds of customers back for the first sale of the year. 

The market will run each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the end of September. 

Sherry Bachmann, a market advisor and vendor representative at the Tenino Farmers Market, said she was excited for the return of the market. She said customers can expect a jam-packed summer of events.

The summer schedule for the market includes the Mother’s Day Market on May 13 and the Kids Day Market on June 10. 

“They get refined as the yearsgo by. This will be our fifth or sixth year for the Mother’s Day Market and we’ll give away flowers to mothers. Kid’s Day has been around for five or six years as well, and kids can actually come in and be a vendor for a day,” Bachmann said.

The Father’s Day Market is set for June 17. Attendees can enjoy a car show sponsored by the T90 Quarrymen Car Club. Other events include the Tenino 150th Jubilee on July 8, the Blue Ribbon Pie Contest on July 22 during Oregon Trail Days, National Farmers Market Week on Aug. 5, Garlic Day on Aug. 19 and Pumpkin Day on Sept. 30. 

Bachmann said the Tenino Farmers Market is a part of the Washington State Farmers Market Association and must adhere to “strict criteria” for what’s sold in the market and how it’s managed.

“We set our own prices for the booths at the Tenino Farmers Market,” Bachmann said. “We’re probably one of the least expensive markets to participate in.”

Vendors pay a $30 annual fee and a $5 fee for space. Bachmann added that sales over $50 receive a 5 percent commission fee. She said that money raised pays for event insurance, market operating expenses and canopies for the vendors. 



“This season you can expect a lot of produce, plants and artisans,” Bachmann said. “Everything has to be handcrafted, homegrown, handmade or produced in Washington. We can’t sell commercial items here.” 

She told the Nisqually Valley News that 29 vendors have signed up for the season. She added that some of the vendors rotate and won’t be there every weekend.

“A lot of the vendors you see here have been here for five, eight, 10, 12 years. I’ve been doing this since 2009. It’s a fun, fun market,” Bachmann said. “We don’t have any real issues. It’s just a great, fun time.” 

Westin Zurfluh attended the Tenino Farmers Market for the first time in 2023. Despite this year being his first market, he enjoyed getting out in the community on May 6 to participate in opening day.

“I really enjoyed what I saw out here today at the farmers market,” Zurfluh told the Nisqually Valley News during the event. “I was out here today looking for some fresh produce and I found more than what I was looking for.” 

He said the Tenino Farmers Market provides an opportunity for those who live in the area to get out and shop locally. 

The Tenino Farmers Market hopes to improve off its successes in 2022. The market made over $102,000 in total sales last year. Thirty-four percent of total sales were made by farmers, while processors made up 15 percent. Concessionaires totaled 24 percent of sales, while Artisans totalled 22 percent. Resellers totaled just 5 percent.

According to Bachmann, the Tenino Farmers Market welcomed 750 customers, 20 vendors and over $4,500 in sales each Saturday, on average in 2022.

The market is located in the 200 block of Sussex Avenue in downtown Tenino.