Spokane is home to more than a few farmers markets and based on national trends more could be on the way.
Since 1994 farmers markets have increased four-fold across the country; from 1,700 in 1994 to more than 7,800 today. The Spokane Public Market is feeling that boom too by opening more days a week.
The first thing you'll see is bright, crisp, fresh produce, like peaches.
"Ripe when it's touched on the crown, little soft, gonna get juice everywhere," Roger Stanley said.
He gets his produce from all corners of the Inland Northwest -- Airway heights, Cheney, Priest River -- and that's why, he said, markets are succeeding.
"Yeah, that's what we need to be doing, bringing in fresh and local and straight to you," he said.
At a farmers market you're going to find unique goods like Priest River golden raspberries and jalapeno lime scones. And where else are you going to be serenaded while you shop?
There are characters at the market who bring flair with their food. Characters like Dave Ainsley, or as he's known around the market, The Scone Ranger.
The Scone Ranger boasts carrying 40 different varieties of scone -- his triple cheese garlic scones sell out every week -- but more than that he brings a passion to his humble enterprise at the farmers market.
For Dave Ainsley, he said its all about the people.
"We have very loyal customers and they're just ... they're the highlight of our week," he said.
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