The fruits of local labor

There is a street musician playing his acoustic guitar and harmonica in front of a big sign with bold green letters that reads "Farmer's Market" on Saturday morning. Swarms of people pass by the sign and the musician to enter a fenced area in the University Heights Center on the Ave., where numerous white tents are lined up in rows.

The market is a place where local Seattle farmers come and sell their food products, while local consumers come to mingle and buy the fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, along with other delights such as baked goods, cheese and even canned seafood.

Upon entering the marketplace, there is the tempting smell of a bakery that fills the air. At Little Prague's European Bakery and Deli, Mari Makavicka, an energetic and friendly middle-aged woman, greets her customers as her kolaches and strudels sell nonstop. Makavicka said the fruit kolaches are must-tries at her shop.

"I buy the fruit at this market the day before and make the kolaches right away, so they're very fresh," said Makavicka, whose personal favorite is the plum kolache, as two women who overheard her were buying the kolache treats.

One male customer bought a cherry strudel and mentioned to Makavicka, "I had $100 today and I only have $2 left. And I knew I had to buy the cherry strudel!"

At the market, many fresh and colorful fruits and vegetables are displayed on five-foot-long tables and in wooden boxes. The variety of fruits include blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, peaches, apples and Asian pears, while vegetables abound in the form of squash, tomatoes, eggplants and baby bok choy. One of the fruit vendors at the market is Anderson Acres, run by a sweet elderly couple that sells tsugaru apples.

Grant and Jackie Anderson are passionate about their apples. Jackie gave out samples to the consumers as she explained enthusiastically how these tsugaru apples are exceptionally sweet with an intense tart flavor in the middle. At five pounds of apples for $5, the Andersons have loyal customers who come back every week.

In a proud, happy tone Jackie recalled, "A man who came last week and bought a pack came back first thing this morning to buy more."

In the far corner of the U-District Farmer's Market reside displays of different varieties of tomatoes that are not available at the local grocery store. Brown, green, orange and ruby-red tomatoes -- with such names as San Marzano and Big Beef and distinctive flavors from tangy to tart -- are ready for purchase.

Dale Nelson, who has been bringing a variety of these tomatoes to this market for nearly 10 years, pointed out the best tomatoes of the week, as well as which ones are best for frying, superior for pastes and sauces, as well as the best for eating plain and raw.

Alongside the friendly farmers, consumers linger in the laid-back, friendly atmosphere of the market. Mothers in their late 40s stand and chat about their families while couples walk around the various tents talking to the local farmers as they try to choose which fruits to buy.

Couples circle around the tents once and on the second round buy what appeals to them that week. A main appeal for shopping at the market as opposed to a chain grocery store is to show support for local agriculture as well as the organic quality of the food.

It was UW graduate student Blythe Summers's first time at the market. Carrying two plastic bags with Asian pears, apples and fresh bread, she said, "It's a little pricey, but I like the variety and the fact that it's organic."

Sophomores Lillian Tharp and Carolyn Claridge arrived at the market by bus from Capitol Hill. They visit the market every Saturday.

"We like the farmer's market because we know where our food is coming from and who is making them. The atmosphere is friendly and there's a feeling of community too," said Tharp.

Gwen, Laura and Emile Kousbaugh are three generations of consumers at the market who spent a portion of their Saturday together in the U-District.

"This market is just friendly and nice and of course we love the samples!" said Gwen and Laura together. Emile, sitting in a baby carriage, was able to sniff the flowers and eat some baked goods that day, indicating that the farmer's market can be enjoyable for people of all ages.

The U-District Farmer's Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday until Nov. 22.