For twenty-three years, the Everett Farmers Market has been serving the community. And without the community, the Friday and Sunday markets would not exist — the patrons that flock between the white tents and mingle with our producers, vendors, and artisans are the wind beneath our sails. But what, exactly, does it mean to be a part of that community?
To find out, we asked Sunday market-goers of all kinds to step out of the crowd and let their voices be heard. The following five interviews offer a small snapshot into the lives of our patrons. From their families, to their secret hobbies, to their guilty pleasure foods, each interview shines a more intimate light on the diverse community the market aims to serve.
Customers Savannah, Sage and Maria
EFC: What brings you down to the market today?
Savannah: It’s a beautiful day–
Maria: And we came to get some food!
EFC: What kind of food?
Maria: I had a meat pie.
EFC: Those are new here today! I had one too.
Maria: The curry chicken was delicious!
Sage: I had one of those grilled cheeses. They put raspberries in a grilled cheese! You’d never think of that. It was delicious.
EFC: Are you gals from around here, or are you visiting?
Savannah: We’re from North Everett.
EFC: Do you happen to be Everett High students?
Sage: No, we went to Marysville MP. Go Tomahawks!
EFC: What booth do you visit the most when you’re down here?
Maria: Mostly, when I’ve come down here before, I go to the bakery and produce stands.
EFC: Let’s pretend you guys are in a hypothetical universe and you have your own booth here at the farmer’s market. What would you make, produce or grow?
Maria: Yes! We were just talking about that! I wanna open my own crepe stand, have my own grill, like the grilled cheese ladies!
EFC: What about you two?
Sage: Probably pizza. I almost got pizza today, but I think I eat pizza a little too much….
Savannah: I’m digging the booths that have vegan things. It’s nice for once to be able to have all the options on a menu, rather than be stuck with that one vegan thing.
EFC: Can each of you give me one word that best describes the market?
Maria: I’m going to say community.
Savannah: DANG IT, MOM, I WAS GOING TO SAY COMMUNITY.
Maria: Sorry, I said it first.
Savannah: Thanks a lot.
Sage: I guess I’ll say personality.
Savannah: And I’ll go with inclusion
Customer Phil Hutmaker
EFC: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Phil Hutmaker. I live on a boat with my wife in the Everett Marina. We’ve been living on it for about twenty years. We have seven children, twenty-three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, so we’ve got quite a family going.
EFC: Wow! Do you like taking your grandchildren to the market?
Phil: Well, they’re scattered all over the place. I had two of them with me last week. The problem is when children get older, they get their own life and their own peer group and their own things. You take what you can get.
EFC: So why are you here today, Phil?
Phil: My wife is shopping for vegetables, and I just like sitting out and to talk to people, look at people, buy the miscellaneous things that I’m interested in.
EFC: About how often do you guys visit the market?
Phil: Pretty often. Like I said, we live over in the old marina, in front of where the farmer’s market was before, so I know a lot of the vendors that come around. The fish guys, the burger places, and all that.
EFC: If you had to run your own booth at the market, what would you grow, produce, or make?
Phil: My wife and I used to have a booth here, actually. She quilted– custom baby quilts, and anniversaries quilts, and that sort of thing. We also made woodcrafts and candles. That was probably, ten-plus years ago.
EFC: What was your favorite part about running a booth?
Phil: We met a lot of diverse people down at the market. So meeting people, definitely!
