Phinney Farmers Market

Small but stocked, I’ve been shopping the summer farmers market at the PNA for a decade. It’s refined what it offers to bring both a well-​rounded shopping experience, and a local destination for couples or families. Dinner and fresh produce, with buskers and demonstrations.

This is a very small but solid farmers market worth checking out on a Fri afternoon.

The beets were wonderful, strawberries were not good– too many needed to be discarded. There are price differences for the what looks like the same produce. There are also some great aromas from some vendors selling you dinner.
Much smaller than the Ballard or University markets.

Great selection of local, fresh fruits and veggies. The vendors are knowledgeable and willing to answer your questions (when I was there today, one vendor had 3 different types of squash and was able to describe what made each different). My favorite part was that most of the vendors accepted credit cards so I didn’t have to search out an ATM.

Phinney Ridge looks like another great year.
The good:
–La Pasta is one of the vendors, and their handmade pasta and sauces are wonderful, and a deal! At $ 6/​pound (and the pasta is conveniently split into 3 bundles, each enough for a serving), and $ 5 sauces, I can get 2 – 3 meals out of $ 11! I had the roasted red pepper linguine, which was VERY tasty!
–Kittitas Greenhouse with its MANY varieties of heirloom tomatoes is a Caprese salad lover’s dream! Many colors and varieties
I will miss the cheese vendor though; I stopped by Central Market on the way up north to get Mozzarella to enjoy with my tomatoes.

I’m givin’ it a 5 because it not too big, not too small but just right! Add off street parking and a view overlooking Green Lake and the Cascade Mountains and what’s not to like? You might find larger Farmers Markets but this one also is very foodcentric. The only non-​edible thing I saw here was flowers.
It’s located in the parking lot of the PNA which in it’s self is worth the visit. It’s a great environment to shop in and never too crowded. I dare you to tell me this food doesn’t taste better than what you get in the national chain grocery store!

Friend: Hey, what are you doing Friday night?
Me: Going to the market.
Friend: Wow! How lame is that?
Me: Well, it’s not.
The reason: DINNER PARTIES. It’s why single people aren’t lonely in Europe. It’s coming together, meeting friends and acquaintances face to face. It’s intimate, sharing the same space and simultaneous laughter, instead of those staggered lol’s over txts and instant msging. It’s easy, foraging around at the farmer’s market before dinner is the most effortless way to blow someone’s mind. Pick out something vibrant and fresh for a salad (wild arugula, dandelion greens or watercress) Taste it first. Add thinly-​sliced apples & tri-​colored radishes. Whisk together a vinaigrette out of apple cider vinegar, dijon, local honey, olive oil & sea salt. Sprinkle on some salty feta, and sear up grass-​fed lamb or beef in butter & garlic (use a liberal amount of sea salt). Serve with a crusty loaf of bread and have your friends bring over the wine.
Viola! Now you know how to beat the Seattle Freeze even in the dead of winter. Sorry Friend, you’re no longer invited.
Side note: This particular market is only available June-​October. The Ballard, West Seattle and University District markets are open year-​round.

Please, please compare prices. Even if a farm stand is RIGHT NEXT to another, their prices can vary for the SAME organic food item very widely.
That being said, this place has a playground that would amuse kids 4 and under, is dog friendly, and has great ready-​made food available for making this a shopping AND dinner experience. If you are too cheap for a slice or a very tasty looking grilled cheese «experience,» there are samples a plenty from each booth, from exotic and yummy sounding preserves and spreads to fresh bread and produce.
Hello, new summer grocery spot!
P. S. Parking was a cinch– we got a spot in the lower lot right away and passed several decent spots on Phinney Ave

I went for the first time today and it was a quaint little market, which suits this neighborhood perfectly. It’s only as big as the upper parking lot of the Phinney Association building so I was able to walk through and browse all the different vendors in, oh, 15 minutes. I waffled between giving them a 3 star vs 4 star HOWEVER, I’m used to going to the Fremont Market which I adore for their artsy crafty stuff, and to the Ballard Market which I heart for their produce. And this market is just sparse. And unlike the other ones I mentioned which are open year round, Phinney is only open from June to October.

Great little farmers market in Phinney Ridge. Unfortunately, the timing of it makes it almost impossible for me to stop by as it is only on Friday afternoons (I think it’s like 4−7p.m.) and it’s not open year round. Open primarily in the summer, I think May through September.
But the produce is great, people are helpful, they also have wonderful pizza by the slice, and sometimes live music.

LOVE the Phinney Farmers Market! It’s small enough that you can be in-​and-​out in a jiffy, but it’s also big enough that you can stroll around for a couple of laps and peruse the selection thoroughly. I appreciate that it’s more of a «no nonsense» type of market and it’s mostly just produce and some meat and cheese — you don’t have to deal with the booths that have scarves or ugly purses, because that doesn’t grow on a bush or tree!
So, minus a star for only being open from June through September (Whaaaa!!! Mama is NOT happy. Plants do grow outside of these months!) And a big FYI to other peeps like myself who like to bring their dog with them everywhere, it’s a no doggie zone so your little furry buddy has to be tied up to the fence outside :(

For what it is, I am a fan.
The Phinney market is relatively small and as to be expected, is somewhat sparse at the beginning of the season. We go to the Ballard market year-​round, and if it weren’t for the hellacious parking would probably skip Phinney and only hit Ballard for our market needs.
That said, Phinney does fit a whole bunch of variety into their small market. There are the normal fruit and veggie stands (be sure to ask each vendor if organic is a concern) plus a great bread spot, pizza, ice cream and fresh meat. One thing I have missed (may just have hit it at the wrong time) is the cheese guy who was there last year with the amazing curds. I miss those.

Not overwhelming but small and tidy. So happy to have a farmers market within walking distance to where I and the family live. Always a great selection of produce, cheeses and meats to choose from.
I have some of the farmers to thank for turning me on to baby turnips and their greens plus rapini (like broccoli but with way more leaves). The prices are on par or better than PCC and or Whole Foods. All neighborhood farmers markets are essential as water. Check them out. It’s worth it.
Oh and check out the pizza people and their portable oven. Good stuff.