The Ballard Crafters

Many of the folks who sell crafts (as opposed to food products) at the Ballard Farmers' Market feel that the market staff doesn't sufficiently value their contribution to the event. They show up all winter when the crowds are sparse, but they have low priority for stall space during the summer and fall, when local produce is abundant and there are few spots to spare.

Some farmers' markets, including 7 markets in Seattle run by the Neighborhood Farmers' Market Alliance, don't even allow craft vendors at their markets, which they believe should be food-only venues, in keeping with the organization's mission.

The tension between food producers and craft vendors is an issue in other parts of the country as well: as markets grow increasingly successful, there's more competition for space. It helps that there are so many new markets--more markets means more stall spaces--but many of the younger markets just don't offer the kind of foot traffic you see at older, established venues.

A partial solution has been evolving organically, so to speak, in Ballard. There's an empty lot right off the street where the market as held. It's privately owned, and the owner has been renting space to craft vendors on Sundays, during market hours. Most shoppers aren't even aware that this annex isn't officially part of the market. There have been some issues to be ironed out, but the market administration can't veto the extra vendors because they depend on the good will of the neighborhood property owners in order to keep their street use permit.

It's not a perfect solution, and many of the crafters still resent the fact that the market doesn't treat them as a priority, but it does help to create a more interesting event, and it's better than no stall space at all.