At a few of Seattle’s farmers areas, there exists a stall that is simple with crates of organic fruits through the fertile soils of this Methow Valley. Into the fall, handwritten signs indicate the range of each apple (over 12), such as the rich, red Winesap or the winter that is pale-yellow (apple). The display is even more glorious boxes of large yellow peaches line the tables next to sunset-ombrГ©d apricots, along with bags of Rainier cherries, Bing cherries, and Van cherries during the summer. The farmer behind this stall is Amy Wu, and she’s my aunt.
Auntie Amy is the creator of Rest Awhile Country Market, a farm in Pateros, Washington. She sells her fruits in Seattle area markets, including Edmonds, Mercer Island, Madrona, and Ballard. Her business is known because of its premium fruit, showing itself whenever her customers consistently keep coming back. One client says, “This must be the apple from Snow White,” as she tips up to a Ida that is beautiful Red. I smile as We place the apple on the scale. I’ve been helping Auntie Amy with her sales, simply over time to have the last bit of the apple period. I’ve realized that joining her during the market is quite a unique means of getting to know her.
“I started farming once you understand nothing about agriculture, nothing about retail, but I’ve been doing it for over 15 years, and right here I will be,” she tells me, gazing away to the market. Her successes haven’t come without challenges, but. Her store, which is humbly situated on the part of Highway 153 while the Methow River has seen a 50 percent fall in traffic as a result of pandemic. There are fewer individuals traveling these days, compared to when she’d normally see people stop bustle in and out for a fast bite to consume or even to grab some freshly-picked g d fresh fruit. In addition, the risk of wildfires has increased in recent years.