One of my favorite things about the Mercer Island Farmers Market is seeing it through the eyes of a child.
Every Sunday, kids pull miniature shopping carts down the market aisles, munch on fresh berries, carry bouquets nearly as tall as they are, and eagerly search for Milo the Market Gnome. If you’ve never met Milo, he’s our resident market mascot, hidden somewhere each week for children to find. Watching kids race to the Information Booth after spotting him never gets old.
Creating experiences like this has become an important part of what we do because today’s young shoppers, makers, and dreamers are tomorrow’s farmers, artists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
Maybe that belief comes from my own childhood. My grandfather started and directed a farmers market, and some of my earliest memories are helping at his tomato stand. Long before I became a market director, I was a kid spending weekends surrounded by growers, vendors, and neighbors. Looking back, I realize those experiences shaped who I am, and they inspire the opportunities we create today.
The Youth Vendor Program began with a 14-year-old entrepreneur named Lily, who joined the market in 2024 with products she had created herself. Shoppers loved visiting her booth, asking questions, and encouraging her work. Watching her succeed made me wonder how many other young people would thrive if given the chance.
So in 2025, we launched the Youth Vendor Program, inviting young entrepreneurs to experience what it’s like to run a real business. They handcraft their products, set up booths, interact with customers, and learn firsthand what it means to earn money through creativity and hard work.
Since then, more than 25 youth vendors have participated, selling everything from candles and jewelry to artwork and clothing. Some arrive with polished branding and business cards, while others are trying their very first market. Both are equally exciting to watch.
One of those vendors is my daughter, Eleanor.
“I like being a youth vendor because I like interacting with people and selling things. I really like working with my friends too. It takes a lot of work to make everything, but then people buy it and I get money. It’s fun!”
Her words perfectly capture the spirit of the program. The goal isn’t simply to create future CEOs—it’s to help young people build confidence, communicate with strangers, solve problems, and take pride in something they’ve made themselves.
The market also offers opportunities beyond entrepreneurship. Every season, volunteers of all ages help with setup, attendance counts, children’s activities, and special events. For many teens, it’s their first chance to take on meaningful responsibility.
One of my favorite examples is Shane. He first came to the market when he was seven, became a volunteer at 14, joined our staff at 16, and today helps oversee volunteers and many behind-the-scenes operations. In many ways, Shane grew up at the Mercer Island Farmers Market, proving it can be much more than a place to shop—it can be a place to discover leadership and belonging.
Families are at the heart of that mission. The miniature shopping carts, originally introduced as a small way to include kids, have become one of the market’s biggest hits. Children proudly collect produce, flowers, and treats as they shop alongside their parents, transforming the experience from something they attend into something they own.
Free activity at our Children’s Booth, from crafts to hands-on projects and games, gives kids another reason to feel the market was designed with them in mind.
Our commitment to young people extends through partnerships with local organizations as well. MIHS Pep Band opens each season, Jazz Band performs throughout the summer, and local teams host Soccer Sunday activities. Scout troops have contributed service projects, including signage and a Free Little Library.
Many vendors make the market a family affair too, with children helping stock shelves, greet customers, and hand out samples while learning responsibility and customer service alongside their parents. They ask farmers how carrots grow, discover where honey comes from, and see firsthand that food doesn’t simply appear on grocery store shelves.
We’re committed to making healthy food accessible to everyone. Through our donor-funded Market Bucks program, families experiencing food insecurity can purchase fresh produce and other eligible foods while stretching their grocery budgets.
And this season, another family member joined the fun: dogs. After years of requests, we officially welcomed four-legged visitors in late 2025. Sunday mornings now include wagging tails, happy greetings, and even dog treats from one of our vendors.
At its heart, a farmers market is about far more than transactions. It’s about connection. It’s a place where children safely explore, entrepreneurs are encouraged, neighbors become friends, and families build traditions together.
Those moments may never appear in attendance reports or sales figures, but they’re what make the Mercer Island Farmers Market feel like home. Today’s child hunting for Milo may become tomorrow’s volunteer, vendor, staff member, or community leader.
And for me, that’s what community is all about.
MIFM May 31-Oct 11 next to Mercerdale Park, 10am-2pm.
Searching for Milo the Market Gnome, launching a first business, or volunteering, young people play an important role at MIFM.
In this personal reflection, Market Manager Ange Garrett shares the stories, programs, and partnerships that help make the market a place where kids and families can learn, connect, and grow together.