On a typical lot the farmer announces “I have ten boxes of number one large tomatoes, we’ll sell them choice, take one up to all of them.” Then he waits for an offer from the buyers. When an offer comes, the seller repeats the number loud enough for all to hear and waits for further offers. When no higher offers come in he repeats the last offer and says “sold” to number x. The buyers catch on quick, and it helps if they are in a hurry to get back to their markets.

A farming friend recently declared that in the Seattle area the concept of local farmers serving local consumers seemed to have reached a saturation point. She observed that sales were the indication and to illustrate spoke of her own case; with farmer’s market sales down two consecutive years – 20% down two years ago and another 20% dip in 2010. She suggested that while they might be needed elsewhere, at least in Skagit County Washington they did NOT need more farmers. In her view more farmers would just mean less income for each. I must respectively disagree and in the loudest volume I can muster on the printed page.

We had agreed to meet down town, under the towering cottonwoods. I had arrived early, intending to relax and catch up on some reading. Little did I know I’d find myself in the middle of a celebration; a boisterous commercial one at that. Being a bit of a hermit, it surprised me – how drawn I was to staying to take in the sights, sounds and aromas.