Agriculture
With 140 miles of marine shoreline and over 100,000 acres of highly productive farmland, Bellingham and Whatcom County are a fresh-food haven delightfully located between the Salish Sea and snow-capped Mount Baker.
During the summer, berry fields of all kinds reign supreme. Most notably, this area is one of the largest producers of raspberries in the country and the bounty is celebrated each summer at the Northwest Raspberry Festival in Lynden, WA!
All of this abundance feeds directly into the thriving and numerous farmers markets held from downtown Bellingham to farther north in Blaine.
The concept of Eat Local First is an important motto in Bellingham and Whatcom County. Find delicious fare from local farms, fisheries, eateries, markets, and more on the Farm to Table Trail.
Seasonal Farmers Markets & Farm Stands
- Locally grown and handmade products from Whatcom County are available at the Bellingham Farmers Market on Saturdays in downtown Bellingham. Open April-December, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., the market switches to operate monthly January-March.
- Purchase seafood right from local fishermen in Squalicum Harbor! Open the 1st and 3rd Saturdays each month, year-round, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- This open-air market in downtown Blaine, Washington is located on G Street Plaza and features a mix of local produce, baked goods, and handmade products. Open Saturdays (May-early October), 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Head to the Barkley Village Green for live music, food trucks, and local vendors. Open Thursdays 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in July and August.
- Stop by this market in Everson, WA to peruse items from local farmers, crafters, and various small businesses. Open Sundays (May - September) 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Located two miles from Birch Bay, you can shop at their farm stand April-October. They also open their farm in the fall for pumpkin season.
- Located on the corner of 4th and Grover St. in Lynden, Washington. Open Saturdays (June-September) from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Located at the Rome Grange off Mt. Baker Highway, this market features produce and goods from local farmers and cottage industries. Open Fridays, 3-7 p.m., June 20 – September 26.
- Working to increase access to fresh food across Whatcom County, this mobile market can be found at various locations June-October.
Culinary Itineraries
We are curating different themed experiences that serve as a free guide to discover everything Whatcom County has to offer.
Eat at farm to table restaurants, explore different waterfront destinations, shop at local businesses, ignite your imagination while touring museums and admiring murals, plus so much more!
Check in at participating locations to earn points that can be used for locally inspired prizes.
Celebrate Local Food!
The Lynden Farmers Day Parade has been bringing the residents of the Lynden community and surrounding areas together to celebrate Lynden’s agriculture and history for the last 100 years.
This family-oriented, free-to-attend parade showcases farm equipment of the past, present and future, along with decorated floats, marching bands, kids and kids-at-heart on bikes, cars, trucks and sometimes even boats!
July is National Raspberry Month and at the peak of the summer harvest season Lynden, Washington hosts the Northwest Raspberry Festival, filled with delicious family-friendly fun!
Savor fresh raspberry sundaes on locally-produced ice cream, listen to live music, and sidewalk shop in downtown Lynden. Kids activities include inflatable games, face painting, and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
Every year in September, Sustainable Connections organizes the Whatcom County Farm Tour, which involves a dozen farms around the area opening their doors to the public.
The farm tour is a festive day of fresh flavors and local food explorations. See the bounty of Whatcom County on this FREE, family friendly self-guided tour. Enjoy leisurely strolls through fields and orchards, exciting interactive activities, and the chance to discover the roots of abundant food grown in this part of Northwest Washington.
The Whatcom Farm Expo is a free annual event hosted by the Whatcom Conservation District and Whatcom County Public Works.
Learn about all the resources available to you, from local organizations to businesses and community groups. Sign up for the expo's E-News to stay up to date and get announcements for the next Whatcom Farm Expo and other events!
