What’s new at the market are increasing quantities of produce. The Family Farm brings more produce each week — their spinach is fantastic! Nash’s Organic Produce is now at the market!

Our Vendor of the Week is Nash’s Organic Produce. I spoke with Devon Beck about the business and Nash’s participation in the market. You may have seen her image, holding a basket of produce, on the back of a Clallam County Transit bus. Beck is the farmers market manager and has been working at Nash’s for five years. She says she found her way to Nash’s through her interest in eating organic food.

She now coordinates eight farmers markets, six of them on the peninsula and two in the Seattle area.

Nash’s has been coming to the market since it began on Cedar Street 17 years ago and had participated in farmers markets in other parts of Sequim prior to that. The farm began in 1979.

When I asked Beck what is important about coming to the Sequim Open Aire Market, she said, “Bringing fresh local produce to the market is important to increase the access of the produce to the local community and to build the local economy.” She also says that it is important to stand side by side with the Sequim artisans and food purveyors.

Recent developments for Nash’s still include the newly improved and relocated farm store. Patty McManus, farm owner Nash Huber’s wife, has been doing a fantastic job putting together classes about cooking, diet, shopping and other food/health related topics.

Another exciting recent development is that the store now has a grain mill. If you come at the right time, you have the opportunity to see the grains, grown on the farm, being milled to flour before your very eyes.

Beck tells me, “The Farm Share program, which buys you a weekly box of seasonal produce, has an added incentive. If you join the program, you save 10 percent on anything else you buy that was grown at Nash’s. This can be picked up at the market.”

When I asked what is unique about working for Nash’s Organic Produce, Beck said, “It is so much more than a business, it is a huge community. It is extremely rewarding delivering our product to the public.” She added that it is an extremely supportive and nurturing environment in which to learn and develop one’s skills.

When you come to the market this week you can pick up the first of the strawberry harvest. Beck tells me that this time of year they pick their strawberries quite early in the morning: “So many strawberries with just a belly full of coffee; it can be bittersweet but we are just so darn excited to taste those delicious berries.”

Freshly milled flour and Nash’s pork and eggs also will be available at the market.

Check the website for the updated music listing for June 15. The music on June 22 will be the Winding River Band, local talent playing a blend of bluegrass and country.

The Suzanne Arnold Community Booth will host the New Dungeness Light Station Association, the North Olympic Square Dancing Council and the Puppy Pilots on June 15. Come learn more about each of these wonderful local resources.