South Whidbey Tilth gives market leftovers a second chance

By Kyle Jensen • June 21, 2017 12:00 pm
Kyle Jensen / The Record — Clinton resident Anza Muenchow sifts through the community produce booth at South Whidbey Tilth Farmers Market.
Kyle Jensen / The Record — Clinton resident Anza Muenchow sifts through the community produce booth at South Whidbey Tilth Farmers Market.

When farmers market vendors wrap up their booths at the end of the day, the leftover produce often ends up being tossed or donated.

South Whidbey Tilth has an alternative.

The market has introduced a community produce booth this market season, which allows vendors from markets across the island to sell their leftovers through Tilth. The booth is stocked with produce, breads and other goods from a selection of vendors every Sunday and allows farmers to make a little extra cash from their crops.

“Since some of our farmers are aging or might not be available on Sunday, we thought we’d catch what’s fresh at the end of the weekend and needs selling,” South Whidbey Tilth President Susan Prescott said. “It’s just another way farmers can get more cash, more of their work back and at least one weekend day off.”

The farmers are assured 75 percent of what is sold, while the Tilth member who vends the community produce booth gets 15 percent for their efforts. Tilth then takes a 10 percent sales commission.

While the amount earned varies greatly per vendor, Prescott said vendors will likely make anywhere between $50 to $100.