By Joan Peter

This Spring the Kingston Farmers Market will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a much needed makeover. Gone is the old name, and the old rules and restrictions. The market board of directors has rewritten its guidelines to create a much broader experience for vendors and visitors alike.

The Kingston Farmers Market was started in 1989 by three local women — Kathy Wartes, Marcia Adams and Mary McClure. Their vision was to have an enticing selection of produce and farm-related products, to provide a place for artisans, and to promote use of the Kingston’s beautiful Mike Wallace Park. This was only the second farmers market in all of Kitsap County, and was immediately successful.

In a poll done in 1991, of 41 Market vendors, 16 were produce and farm goods, 7 were food related, and 18 were handicrafts. So at that time, half (or more) of the vendors were farmers. Why was there such a strong showing of farmers? In 1991, organic produce was hard to come by and, for the most part, not available at all in grocery stores. Organic produce is now easily found. Additionally, where there used to be only two farmers markets in the county, now just about every town, big and little, has a weekly market.

For years the Kingston Farmers Market heard increasing frustrations from visitors who complained about the lack of produce. In spite of the best efforts of the Board to attract farmers, their presence has steadily dwindled. It became obvious that the name itself was misleading. Crafters and artists, on the other hand, have held steady or increased, but have done so under strict guidelines. All items had to be made by the individual. Resale of goods was not allowed. This created a wonderful setting of quality arts and crafts, but left out many who wanted to offer other types of items.

Behold your new Kingston Public Market!

Yes, we still want and encourage produce and farm related goods, and offer discounted fees to encourage their presence. And of course we still want quality hand made items that reflect our local community. But, we are opening the market to resales of all kinds. This means you can now bring down your baseball cards, or antique china, or old tool collection. We are moving forward with a flea-market element that will create an exciting diversity of items, and ensure that every Saturday is different. You can now buy and sell just about anything, as long as you follow a few common sense guidelines. This creates an upbeat new venue for pop-up stores and any business that wants to attract more people to their services or store.

Thinking of starting a business? The new Kingston Public Market is the ideal way to test your market. And it no longer has to be something you made yourself. Thinking of selling a collection or having a garage sale? Now you can pay for a space at the new market, and sell your goods in a beautiful setting to an ever-changing crowd.

There is only one other market of this type in Kitsap County, and very few beyond that. Kitsap has long needed a venue for a flea market, or swap meet, and now there will be one available to all every Saturday from May 4 to Oct. 12. Hours are still 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and of course still located at the beautiful Kingston Marina, with food, coffee and music for all. Polite dogs are still welcome as well.

To find out about becoming a member, securing booth space, rates and guidelines, contact market manager Gregor McClure at 360-228-5568 or at grgrt2012@yahoo.com.