Lynnwood is working toward opening a farmers market at its transit center on June 6, 2027, with plans awaiting Sound Transit approval. A presentation to the City Council on Wednesday outlined a first season of 13 Sunday markets, bringing vendors to a site connected to rail, bus routes and the Interurban Trail.
The city initially sought to launch the market in spring 2026, before the FIFA World Cup. That schedule slipped when officials struggled to find someone to manage it. In March, Lynnwood hired Sarah Frost of Making Local, a local market consulting company. Revenue from the market will cover her services.
Sound Transit is now reviewing the permit application and site plan. Under the proposal, the market would operate from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays through Aug. 29. Frost expects approximately 30 vendors each week during the first season, with food growers and producers accounting for half of them.
The proposed location is the northeastern portion of the station property, offering direct access to the Interurban Trail as well as light rail and bus service. If approved, Lynnwood's market would be the third regular farmers market in Washington directly beside a light rail station. The other two are at Capitol Hill and Angle Lake.
At Wednesday's council meeting, Frost requested $1,500 to help get the market started. Lynnwood is facing a significant budget deficit, but some council members offered to surrender their travel budgets to cover startup expenses. Council member Isabel Mata expressed confidence that the money could be found and supported making the investment.
Frost also requested city services in place of payment, including traffic control and trash collection. Estimates for those services remain unfinished and will not be finalized until Sound Transit approves the permit application. The City Council previously approved a $5,000 refundable security deposit for Sound Transit in November 2025.
Council member Robert Leutwyler wanted the service costs established before committing seed funding. He said the council needed to consider the request in light of cuts already made during the year, while acknowledging that the market was a new program created during the same period. He said his concern was about the city's financial circumstances rather than opposition to the market.
For Frost, the measure of a successful market would include vendors reaching their goals, food being used rather than wasted, and the community's needs being met. Her plans envision a market that works for both the businesses participating and the people who visit.
