Flowers, pumpkins and games: Quincy Farmers Market to wrap up season

QUINCY — A sunny summer Saturday brought local families, as well as people just passing through town, to the second-to-last Quincy Farmers Market of the season.

Jim and Carrie Wilson traveled from their home in Maple Valley to attend the Dave Matthews Band concert at the Gorge Amphitheatre and to hang out in Quincy, a place they like, Carrie Wilson said. They came downtown to use the pool at the Quincy Swim & Gym, 10 B St. SE, right next to the farmers market. An advertisement at the gym prompted them to check out what was going on out on the street.

The market features produce and food vendors, and on Saturday other vendors were selling flowers, handcrafted jewelry, and furniture made from wine barrels.

Carrie Wilson was impressed by what she found.

“Let me tell you, this town really has it going on,” she said.

Marketeers set up on the first and third Saturday of each month from June through September, on B Street between Central Avenue South and First Avenue Southeast. The street was painted as part of the “Quincy Better Block” party in mid-July, and games and seating from the Better Block event are being used by the farmers market.

Annette Darnell, of Quincy, and her family attend the farmers market every chance they get, she said, and they bring other family members along.

“We try to make it every weekend,” she said. “There’s something for all ages; that’s what I like.”

Darnell was teaching her 6-year-old son Hayden to play checkers at the oversized checkerboard in the middle of B Street. Hayden had the opportunity to jump a couple of mother’s checkers, but he almost didn’t see it.

“You’ve got to look at the whole board,” Annette Darnell cautioned.

Darnell’s husband had disappeared in search of one of his favorite treats from the market.

“My husband especially likes the bacon cheddar jalapeño bread,” Annette Darnell said.

The bacon cheddar jalapeño bread was going fast at This & That Catering. Owner Liane Sarty said she’s been a market participant from the beginning, and it’s been a good way to get the word out about her business.

Mila Martinez was carefully choosing some pumpkins at the Bushman County Farms booth. Her mother Erin Omlin and father Roger Martinez made some suggestions, but Mila knew what she wanted – and what she didn’t want – and she was skeptical of most of their ideas.

The family, of Quincy, was attracted downtown by the chance to get some pumpkins, and the sunny summer weather, Omlin said.

“We love pumpkins,” she said.

Not all vendors were local businesses. Ma Yang, of Snohomish, was doing a brisk business at his flower stand. It was the first time he’s been to Quincy, he said, and he was hoping to sell some of his excess inventory.

“We have a lot of flowers,” he said.

Yang sold ready-made bouquets as well as assembling bouquets made to order.

Alex and A.J. Bopp were selling jewelry, handmade by Alex. Making and selling jewelry is a way to make a little money and have something to do, A.J. said.

“We’re retired. But we’re workaholics,” she said. “So we have to keep busy.”

Alex likes making jewelry, and she likes meeting and talking to people, A.J. said, so farmers markets and craft fairs are a perfect venue.

They live in their RV full time, she said, and they like traveling around from town to town.

“We go to where the sun is shining and it’s not too cold,” A.J. Bopp said.

This was their first time in Quincy, and they liked what they found. The events in smaller towns are more relaxed, she said.

A second Better Block Party is scheduled for the B Street venue from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, as part of the annual Farmer Consumer Awareness Day celebration. The next Quincy Farmers Market is scheduled for Sept. 18.