Fairwood Flea & Farmers Market

On June 2, 2015, the Fairwood Flea & Farmers Market had their first market of the year! Located in the parking lot of 319 W. Hastings from 3-7 p.m., it was conveniently placed in a vibrant neighborhood. There were quite a variety of options that vendors brought to the market (For a full list of vendors see below). They really showcased what the North Spokane region had to offer.

Because this was our first time at the Fairwood Flea and Farmer’s Market, let alone any farmers market, we weren’t quite sure what to expect. The day started out with a bit of uncertain weather but ultimately was a gorgeous summer day as the 3:00 PM hour rolled around. Everyone was a bit worried that due to the initial inclement weather that there wouldn’t be a good turnout. However, we sold out of our Meatballs and Chicken Cacciatore within the first hour! We apologize for those who couldn’t go home with a complete meal and are so excited there was such a high demand. We promise to come more stocked next time! In addition to the popular Chicken Cacciatore and Meatballs, we also almost sold out of our frozen sauces: Gina’s Marinara, Albert’s White Wine Alfredo, and Leda’s Meat Sauce. Needless to say the lack of leftover product made it very simple to pack up and return to the estate. It was such a joy to see so many familiar faces and to engage with those browsing the market.

Desiree Seghetti, Julianne King, and Jessica Bronte were the amazing ladies that worked and gave out the taste testers at the Commellini Estate booth. When asking them what they thought of the afternoon here are their responses:

Desiree Seghetti: “It has been a long time coming for my family to launch our product line and to be so well received was a phenomenal experience. I have always thought that our sauce was gold but to have the affirmation from everyone’s expressions as they tasted each of our samples was truly memorable. However, the highlight of the day, for me, was when my grandparents (Gina and Mauro Seghetti) surprised me and stopped by our booth. I didn’t realize that my nonna (grandmother in Italian) didn’t know we named the marinara after her, since after all it is her recipe. It brought tears to my eyes to see how delighted she was. I very much look forward to participating in the next one.”

Jessica Bronte: “I had a blast at the Fairwood Farmer’s Market! It was fun to engage in the community and share the food that, up until this point, has only been experienced by the Commellini staff and our clients. I rant and rave to my friends about how tasty our sauces are and it was fun to get so much positive feedback from the community. I don’t think there was one person who didn’t “mmmm” after tasting any one of the sauces. I definitely think we’ve got North Spokane hooked on our Alfredo, Meat Sauce, and Marinara. There’s no going back once you try our product line! No other sauce will satisfy! If you missed the June market, mark July 7th on your calendars so you can see what all the hype is about!”

Juli King: “I’ve always loved going to Farmers Market, so being able to attend as a vendor was a lot of fun! There is something really special about the community coming together to emphasize the importance of eating and buying locally. The atmosphere at the Fairwood Market was open and inviting. All the vendors and customers were happy to be out on this day, and that made our jobs even more fun. Being able to share the food that I love at Commellini’s with others was rewarding. We are so excited to continue attending the rest of the Farmer’s Markets!”

In our short time there, we were able to browse the other booths around us, and meet the other vendors from around Spokane. The other vendors had amazing products to offer as well, from food to health, to plants and food trucks. Take a look at their booths:

Commellini’s was right next door to Winterwoods Tea Company, which offers loose leaf tea available to purchase in small packages. They source and mix the tea here in Spokane at Greenbluff.

Jamberry offers a unique product…nail wraps! Nail wraps are appliqués that apply to your nails like a sticker. They come in a variety of patterns and design, and are incredibly easy to apply but look amazing!

Now that the sun has been shining regularly, there were some fresh plants and vegetables available to purchase from a few booths. Hidden Acres Orchards had some rhubarb, jams, and cider that looked delicious. Now is a great time to purchase plants when interested in starting your own garden. Burnt Valley Farm brought in fresh meat and eggs as well.

Other handmade products looked delicious! Who wouldn’t love some fresh cheese provided by Chattaroy Cheese Co. All of their cheeses are varieties of goat cheese flavors with distinct ingredients such as lavender or truffle. Some salsa from Mama Torrez Salsas would go perfect with their homemade chips as well, made from their original Mexican recipes.

There is nothing better then freshly made goods straight from the oven. If you’re looking for a baked loaf of bread, this could be purchased from The Bread Box. Wash House Candies is known for their beautiful award-winning apple pies. They also offer honey, seasonings, and pastries. The Scone Ranger offered a few different kinds of scones that were freshly baked and covered with glazes at the market. The scone flavors range from traditional flavors, to creative ones, with some savory options as well. All of these creations were making us hungry!

If you’re looking to indulge your sweet tooth, then look no further. Simply Sweets offers Baklava and Truffles which were immaculately displayed. Summer is coming quick and the perfect cool down is a popsicle from Fannie’s Ice Pops! The flavor combinations are unique and refreshing. All of the ice pops are made with fresh and organic ingredients.

These homemade remedies and health products looked so cute in their displays, and were good for the body as well! Orange Thyme had bath apothecary products to suit all sorts of bodily needs. They do everything from making of the goods to the packaging of the products. Lavender Lady offered apothecary products as well, but all included the soothing herb of lavender. They had oils, linen sprays, bath salts and more.

If you are looking for gifts, check out the hand carved wooden toys by Band of Saws. There are carvings of puzzles, bowls, trains and plenty of other toys. They even offer Animal and Fantasy puzzles which you don’t often see.

There was all sorts of support from other businesses around Spokane. The Marimbas band from Evergreen elementary provided the loveliest sounding entertainment out front of the Rocket Bakery. Those kids are talented! The Spokane County Fire District 9 also came out to support the local community and raise awareness about their local station.

There was no chance of going hungry at this farmers market! You may have seen those food trucks around town at other outdoor event, but here, they were onsite and ready to roll. Couple of Chefs Catering had sandwiches and burgers that smelled amazing. 3ninjas Mobile Food offered homemade Mexican food with their chipotle tortillas.

If you missed this round of farmers market, don’t worry. The Fairwood Flea & Farmers Market will be set up at the same place and time on July 7! Then, every Tuesday in August and September we will be set up as well. Check the Fairwood Flea & Farmers Market Facebook page for updated information. Next time, come and visit this great community of Spokane vendors!