Is the Bellingham farmers market affordable? Here’s what I got on a $25 budget

Springtime means the return of warmer weather, blooming flowers and, unfortunately, seasonal allergies.

It also means that farmers markets are back.

For as long as I’ve lived in Whatcom County I’ve known that the Bellingham Farmers Market is the place to be on Saturday mornings.

When the farmers market returned to Bellingham on a weekly basis in early April, I knew it’d be a perfect candidate for The Bellingham Herald’s On a Budget series, which focuses on affordable fun and cheap eats in Whatcom County.

I went shopping on a recent Saturday with a $25 budget.

Here’s what I got:

What is the Bellingham Farmers Market?

The Bellingham Farmers Market Association started in 1992, according to Chloe Knox, marketing director of the Bellingham Farmers Market.

Since then, the market has been an annual tradition, being held both indoors for locally made art and handcrafted goods and outdoors for fresh produce and baked goods.

The market is held weekly beginning in April until Decemeber from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Through the winter months, the market is held every third weekend.

“We have a roster of 135 vendors, with usually around 100 vendors on any given Saturday during the high season,” Knox wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald. “Vendors range from farmers to food artisans to craftspeople, but all vendors must make or grow everything they sell.”

The majority of vendors are from Whatcom or Skagit counties, she said, “which makes us unique as far as markets go.”

What did I get with my $25 budget?

I visited the Bellingham Farmers Market on a recent Saturday, bringing my friend Elizabeth with me.

Markets are best when shared with loved ones.

We arrived right after the farmers market started at 10 a.m.

Although the street space was a little crowded, we were able to move around pretty easily.

I had two things on my shopping list: vegetables and a snack. Luckily, the market was full of great options.

Elizabeth and I took a lap around the market before buying anything, pausing to pet six different dogs along the way.

One of the things I love about the Bellingham Farmers Market is the diversity of items for sale.

There’s something for everyone — from fresh veggies, colorful flowers and baked goods to fragrant soaps and handmade jewelry.

After we surveyed everything the vendors had to offer, I had a better idea of what I wanted to get.

In the covered section of the market, where vendors sell locally made art and housewares, I picked a $3 pack of miniature bookmarks with fruits and vegetables painted on them from The Whimsical Rabbit.

I’ve been trying to get back into reading physical books, and cute bookmarks are the perfect motivation.

In the same section, Twin Sisters Creamery was offering samples of locally made cheeses.

“Should I get cheese?” I asked Elizabeth after trying some fantastic white cheddar cheese.

“Yes,” she replied. “The answer is always yes to cheese this good.”

I bought half of a miniature wheel Farmhouse Cheese for $10.

We then ventured to the outside portion of the market to hunt for vegetables.

After looking at radishes, potatoes, carrots, leeks and bok choy, I settled on salad mix from Mariposa Farms.

I bought a small bag for $6, it had kale, spinach and various sprouts.

Lastly, I wanted a snack.

Elizabeth and I shared a large pretzel from Ralf’s Bavarian Pretzel, which cost $4.50.

Elizabeth ended up walking away empty handed,

Is Whatcom County farmers market affordable?

During my visit to the Bellingham Farmers Market, I bought four items for a total of $23.50, coming under my $25 budget

With so many affordable options, it’s easy for shoppers at all budget levels to get what they want for a reasonable price.

The farmers market also offers options for shoppers who received food benefits.

Electronic Benefit Transfer cardholders can” bring their EBT cards to the info booth on market day and turn their EBTs into market tokens,” Knox said. “We also match all EBT spent at the market dollar for dollar, in any amount they wish.”

In addition, market vendors accept Women, Infants and Children benefits.

I look forward to coming back to the Bellingham Farmers Market and finding more bargains.

Julia Hawkins

The Bellingham Herald

Julia Hawkins joined The Herald as a service journalism and general assignment reporter in December 2025. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Western Washington University in Bellingham.