While every Saturday is unofficially customer appreciation day at the Maple Valley Farmers Market, Saturday, July 31, marks the official celebration of the devoted customers who keep the Market bustling each Saturday.
As a token of its appreciation, the Maple Valley Farmers Market Board is donating a free 2010 Maple Valley Farmers Market sturdy canvas shopping bag to the first 50 customers who spend $25 on Saturday. These bags feature the art from the 2009 first-place winner, Tahoma High senior Lindsey Lawrence, in the Maple Valley Farmers Market inaugural poster contest.
Customers can pick up a punch card at the Informational Booth or at both main entrances to keep track of their total purchases and earn their free canvas bag.
This week there are some new vendors for patrons to check out. One new vendor is Illusion, a winery established in Black Diamond in 2002 that produces wine above the Columbia River, 11 miles northeast of Lyle, Wash. Owners Dave and Dina Guest have created an array of wines, including pinot gris, riesling, chardonnay, a red table wine, a syrah, cabernet sauvignon and a sauvignon blanc. The wines that are harder to find at the local stores. July 31 marks their first day at the Market.
Other new vendors include Sweet as Can Bee Honey Farm and Frawg & Turtle BBQ/Apple Butter from Maple Valley.
Market visitors may also want to take a photo with the newly named Mrs. UtterButter, the Maple Valley Farmers Market mascot, a large Holstein cow made of wood. The winning name was submitted by Mark Kaveny from Maple Valley.
To add to the festivities, the Wagon Wheels Square Dance Club will provide entertainment from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
