Farmers Market to keep summer hours

After shoppers complained about winter hours, the organizers of the Ballard Farmers Market have decided to keep the summer hours year-round.

During the sunnier and warmer months, the market is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. But beginning in November, the market traditionally opened an hour later. Judy Kirkhuff of the Seattle Farmers Market Association says the winter hours were for the safety of the farmers who drive in from outlying areas, but shoppers complained about waiting the extra hour to shop, so they decided to go with the earlier hour all year. With the change comes flexibility from the organizers. Vendors have been told that they are not required to be ready to go when the market opens at 10 a.m.. “All my vendors have been clearly told that they are not to risk life or auto, and that they will be welcome to come at whatever time it turns out to be that they can proceed safely,” Kirkhuff tells us. Another change this year is the market will be open the Sunday after Thanksgiving.