Farmers Market gets festive five months early

MOSES LAKE — It didn’t feel much like December this weekend, but the Moses Lake Farmers Market was in holiday mode Saturday.

“We like to go all out for it, (both) Christmas and Christmas in July,” said Matt Sanzone, owner of Little Plotter Shop, who was at the market with his wife, Laura Sanzone. The Sanzones’ booth was decorated with holly and lights in front of a Grinch-themed backdrop.

Not all of the 68 vendors at the farmers market sported yuletide decorations, but enough did to counteract the high-80s temperatures and bright sunshine a little bit. The market management celebrated with a scavenger hunt and basket giveaway. Soap Lake musician Rylei Franks sang, and a good-sized crowd roamed the booths looking for fresh produce, good food and handicrafts.

“(I’ve found) some pastries and flowers so far,” said Lindsay Scott, who was buying a bouquet from Marci Christensen of Bloom & Bundle. “I usually have a couple of spots that I like. The pastries from two different booths and then the flowers kind of caught my eye, and now I’m going to go back for my produce while my kids and my husband play at the park.”

“We’re a flower farmer out of Royal City,” Christensen said. “We have a big supply of peonies, but we also grow annuals, and we sell roots. We’ve been here for probably four or five years. This market is great. We love Moses Lake; everyone’s really, really supportive and it’s been a great experience.”

Nearby, artist Hanna Fountain was painting in front of her display, laying down long brush strokes while looking at a photo of rippling water on the phone perched on her easel. Fountain got her start at the farmers market, she said.

“This is my first time (at the market) in two years,” she said. “I used to be at the market for four years in a row, and then I opened up The Drip Art Gallery downtown. I’ve been keeping busy with that, but I was excited to pop back up here, because I miss being out at the market.”

    Lindsay Scott, right, picks up a bouquet of flowers from Marci Christensen, owner of Royal City-based Bloom & Bundle. Scott likes to come to the market early in the morning, she said, to beat the heat of the day.
  

    Cooper, right, leads his bipedal companion Justin Hettinger through the Moses Lake Farmers Market Saturday morning.
  

    The stockings were hung round the booth with care at Treat Your Pets’ display for Christmas in July at the Moses Lake Farmers Market Saturday.
  

    Moses Lake artist Hannah Fountain works on her next painting at the Moses Lake Farmers Market Saturday morning.