By Mindy Landsman

Special to the Reporter

The Mercer Island Famers Market (MIFM) supports Washington state producers, farmers and the environment.

The MIFM requires that at least half of the ingredients used by prepared food and ready-to-eat food vendors are locally sourced from Washington farms or companies.  In order to sustain the MIFM for years to come, 93 percent of the market income directly supports MIFM vendors, and 7 percent goes toward market operations, including a market manager. The MIFM serving items are 100 percent  compostable and recyclable.  The MIFM is committed to caring for the environment.

Almost all of the farms that participate in the Island’s market are family-owned and have been in operation for at least two generations. They include:

• Hayton Farms: A fifth-generation family farm established by Thomas Hayton in 1876 on Fir Island in the Skagit Valley;

• Collins Family Orchards: A fourth-generation family farm in Selah, which has been growing fruit with “a-peel,” for more than 100 years;

• Hedlin Farms: A third and fourth  generation farm in the Skagit Valley established by Rasmus Koudal, who came over from Denmark in 1906;

• Martin Family Orchards: A third-generation family farm, founded in 1986 in Cashmere.

The MIFM farmers and vendors take great pride in what they do.  Enjoy the fruits of their labor every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. through October 12, in the Town Center.

For more go to http://mifarmersmarket.org.