Hot corn on the cob, fresh flowers and milk at the Renton Farmers Market opening day

Published 10:21 am Thursday, June 3, 2010

The smell of roasted corn drifted to an opposite corner of the market, where a man stopped me and asked where I got my cob of corn. It dripped with butter.

“The way we roast it is really sweet and tender,” said Karen Bainbridge, as she checked on her corn with black heat-resistant gloves.

Her stand is one of 42 that made it to the opening day of the Renton Farmers Market Tuesday, and more are expected to fill out the Renton Piazza as crops become ready for harvesting, said coordinator Stefeny Anderson.

Bainbridge and her husband Nathan roast their corn at about 500 degrees in one of their four hand-cranked machines.

“Silk out, husks down,” Bainbridge said, as she unwrapped the steaming hot corn from its shell.

When the large green roasters aren’t being used at a festival, fair or Seahawks game, they’re resting outside the Bainbridge’s Renton Hill home, she said. “Everyone’s like, ‘That’s what those green machines are on the Hill.’”

About seven years ago Bainbridge quit her job as a bank manager and hit the road with her husband selling roasted corn at fairs throughout the country.

“We just wanted to do something different,” she said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

Nathan’s parents started the business, and the couple worked the stands to pay their way through college.

Today they’ve settled down for their oldest of two sons, who is about to start school.

Renton’s market is the only one they have time to regularly work, she said. “It’s great to be a part of this community.”

At the market, customers and vendors began reconnecting over their products, all made and grown in Washington state. From all corners of the market, women could be seen leaving with thick bouquets of flowers or grocery bags of fresh asparagus and greens.

For the first time this year crafters will have a place to sell their wares with The Market Craft Fair. It’s in Piazza Park, but on the opposite side of Logan Avenue South. It opened Tuesday with 11 vendors.

Through her work with other markets, Anderson has attracted new vendors and products this year.

“We’re trying to create the marketplace experience so people can come and do their grocery shopping here,” she said.

Proper British Bacon is selling fresh eggs, bacon and a variety of sausages.

“There is a difference between farm-raised and the open market,” said vendor Tom Crawford. “It’s a higher quality.”

A milk vendor plans to sell half gallons and several types of aged and soft cheeses. Creamy chocolate milk is sold in glass bottles and made with non-homogenized milk, which means the cream wasn’t removed.

There are new prepared food vendors as well, including a gourmet take and bake pizza stand called ZAW. Consider pairing the pizza with a pint of Burton Brothers ice cream.

“We had a great turnout,” Anderson said. “It’s great to see everyone again.”