Maple Valley Farmers Market

     The weather was chilly for so much of the summer that Saturday’s second annual Chili Cook-off at the Maple Valley Farmers’ Market is a timely event. Ross Olive, of State Farm Insurance and Financial Service, at Chateau Business Park in Maple Valley, will again sponsor the Chili Cook-Off.  Olive believes that it is important that local businesses support these types of events, as they are the cornerstone of our community.    

     As a sponsor, Olive has arranged for prizes, including $100 for 1st place, $75 for 2nd place, $50 for 3rd place and new this year, $50 for “People’s Choice”. The chili cook-off also serves as a fundraiser for the Farmers’ Market and Olive is proud to partake in this annual fundraiser for the  Market.   For a $5.00 donation, the public will be able to sample all of the competing chili recipes, while helping to fund the operational costs of running a non-profit 501c3 Farmers’ Market.  Sampling starts at 10:00 a.m., and interested tasters should plan to arrive early, as last year’s chili sold out way earlier than expected.  Victoria Laise-Jonas commented that she expects this year’s event to be as popular as last year’s, an “event that the community embraced to help sustain our local farmers’ market!” Specific information about the chili cook-off, and how to enter, is available at MVFM’s web-site at www.maplevalleyfarmersmarket, under the “Events” tab.

      As always, nonprofit booths have a standing reservation at the Market, and this weekend Clare Nance, Tahoma High Science teacher and the school’s “queen” of recycling, will join her Green Team environmental club in a booth with loads of green information.  In addition, Stephanie Thomas of King County Master Recycler Composter Program will be at the Market to solve those tricky composting dilemmas. The Maple Valley City Council will have an information booth set-up and our very own Tahoma Cheer Boosters will have a booth to raise money for their cheering activities.

      Musical entertainment will keep the chili’s heat blasting, as Tori Whitten, now in her third year of public performing, shares some of her country and pop music repertoire.  Whitten, who has been singing since the age of three, is fourteen years old and travelled to Nashville last summer to record four original songs.  More information and samples of her music can be found at ToriWhitten.com.

      With so many events taking place, it would be possible to overlook the core of the Market—the farmers with their brilliant array of fresh, local, fall produce; the prepared foods whose tasty aromas drift lazily through the fall air; the artistic creations that lure visitors’ gazes and pocketbooks; the gorgeous armloads of flowers that adorn the flower stalls; and the varied array of unusual and locally-made items including jam, cheese, meat, dairy products, bread, lavender products, hot sauce, and too many more to mention.  Visitors should also check out the newest artisan, designer Karen Jacobs of Uniquely Yours Feather Design.  Jacobs creates feather earrings, feather necklaces and feather hair clip, adding a new artistic dimension to the Market. 

      Only three more Saturdays remain to enjoy the wonders of Maple Valley’s own Farmers’ Market, so there is no time to waste.  The “Saturday morning place to be” is winding down for the season, but there is still ample time to savor its riches, as the Market continues through October 1 at Rock Creek Elementary School from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. each Saturday. More information on Maple Valley Farmers’ Market is available at (425) 463-6751 or at info@maplevalleyfarmersmarket.org.  All MVFM fans are encouraged to “Friend us on FACEBOOK.”  NOTE:  Article written by Brooke Dillon and posted  by Victoria Laise Jonas.