The Bellevue Farmers Market has returned for another year of fresh food and produce, friendly conversations, and many unique items for sale.
Six years ago, state senator Carol Blood volunteered to organize Bellevue’s Farmers Market, which has steadily grown each year. The number of vendors has doubled – from 35 back in 2016 to 70 vendors this year. Of course, with more vendors come more offerings, more variety, and more unique items for sale. It also brings more people. Blood estimates that the total attendance for the market has tripled over the years. “These vendors do other surrounding markets, and they all chat with each other,” said Blood. “If our market were run poorly, it wouldn’t take long for word to get out. Based on the calls from interested vendors, we know that our vendors speak very positively about our market and those who support the market.”
Dalton Gregory with Daddy O’s Spices is a first-year vendor at the Bellevue Farmers Market. While he has been making spices for six years, he just started selling them two years ago. He saw the Bellevue Farmers Market as a great way to expand his brand and have more people try his spices. “The Bellevue Farmers Market is altogether great with so many people attending. It’s been a blessing to be here.”
Celia Torres with Erick’s Enchiladas expressed a similar sentiment. They’ve been in business for 19 years and have been a vendor in the Bellevue Farmers Market for the past three years. “Bellevue is a great community, and the Farmers Market has been going extremely well for us. Ever since our first day here, we knew we would always want to come back.”
The Bellevue Farmers Market is open every Saturday from June 4th through September 10th, from 8 am until Noon. The Market is located in Washington Park in Olde Towne Bellevue, near East 20th Avenue and Franklin Street.
As the summer goes on, the Market will feature a few special family days with special attractions for kids. Those dates have not been set yet, but Blood says they will be promoted well in advance.
Blood also shared what makes the Bellevue Farmers Market unique compared to the Omaha metro markets. “First, we are in a beautiful park that allows people to bring their families and enjoy the amenities while there. Second, you really get a chance to chat with our vendors and know more about where your food is coming from. You don’t see that as much in the bigger city. And finally, we are volunteer-run, while the other markets in the area have paid staff and big budgets. We have to work harder to keep our customers because we can’t afford TV and radio commercials.”
