To enhance the quality of life in Tacoma-Pierce County by providing a thriving farmers market. The Tacoma Farmers Market will serve as the community's preferred source for local farm and artisan products, farm-related community outreach, and as and educational and social forum.

Description:
The Tacoma Farmers Market is a non-profit organization that operates every Thursday and Tuesday between May and October. We have two locations, The 15 year old Broadway street site on Broadway between 9th and 11th and also the Dome District site in front of Freighthouse Square. Our market provides costumers with access to around 100 vendors each week providing fresh produce, artisan crafts and processed as well as prepared foods. The Tacoma Farmers Market is a great opportunity to expand ones knowledge of everything from communication skills to better nutrition. The vast array of produce and goods found at the market are insipring and eclectic.

History:
Citizens concerned with the image of the city founded the Tacoma Farmers Market in 1990. Marcia Moe and Norma Honeysett found themselves in tears after walking through a deserted, needle-strewn street in downtown Tacoma. At that moment, these dishearten women vowed to work to improve downtown Tacoma.

Thanks to the vision of these dedicated women, three primary goals led to the birth of the Farmers Market. One was the effort to dispel the perception that downtown was an empty, unsafe place. Another was to create a sense of community by means of a Market that provided fresh, high quality produce. The third goal was to create a lively street atmosphere around Antique Row and the Theater District. Their concern for the success of the Market was so great that they had a hundred friends pledge to attend opening day and spend ten dollars each to assure an income for the vendors. To the delight of all concerned, the effort was unnecessary. The Market drew crowds of people on its very first day. When the Market opened on its first Thursday in the summer of 1990 there were just 40 vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables, prepared ethnic foods and handmade crafts. Over the next years the Tacoma Farmers Market grew substantially. Today there are over 100 vendors that draw over 6,000 customers every Thursday from June to October.

Contact people:

Kira Doley, (phone), (email) Melisa Evangelos, Market Manager, (phone), (email)

Address:

PO Box 707 Tacoma, WA 98401