Whidbey Island’s five farmers markets recently made two steps toward a unified market front.

After years of considering the idea, market managers have joined together to form the Island Farmers Market Coalition. Although currently just a name placed to a group of people, the group is already making progress for the markets.

In January, the coalition received $600 in grant money from Island County’s lodging tax fund. That was a lot less than the $7,400 requested, but it was a start, according to grant writer and South Whidbey Tilth Farmers Market member Susan Prescott.

“It’s a token acknowledgement that local farmers make a contribution to the Whidbey economy,” Prescott said.

The funds will be used for merged advertising and marketing for all five farmers markets.

Prescott used a few numbers in the grant application to make a point for the markets. Last year, the total gross income of all five markets was about $750,000. Individually all are seeing growth.

Bayview Farmers Market generated approximately $270,000 in 2003. This number grew from $150,000 in 2002 and $100,000 in 2000. Bayview Farmers Market manager Pam Mitchell projects her market’s profits could reach $350,000 after the 2004 market season.

Coupeville Farmers Market, established in 1979 on property owned by the town of Coupeville, is the island’s oldest public market and will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2004. Last year, the market grossed $130,000. Its gross has grown 10 percent each year for the last three years, according to Coupeville Farmers Market manager Peg Tennant.

Oak Harbor Public Market made a jump to $75,000 in 2003 after expanding the market’s site size. This is almost double the previous year’s profits according to Tennant, who is also the market manager in Oak Harbor.

Greenbank Farm Sunday market managers Issy Olivia and Dory DeJong reported about 30 vendors sold at the market every Sunday last season. The market grossed $145,000 in 2003.

Last year, according to Prescott, South Whidbey Tilth brought in approximately $65,000. Previous year’s numbers were around $67,000, and $48,000 for 2000.

These numbers are keeping up with the growth of farmers markets elsewhere in the state. According to the Washington State Farmers Market Association, in 1999, 68 markets generated $8 million in combined revenues. In 2002, there were 85 member markets earning a total of $18 million.

Only together officially for the last month, the coalition is an informal cooperative consisting of market managers, presidents and representatives from the Bayview Farmers Market, Coupeville Farmers Market, Oak Harbor Public Market, Greenbank Farm Sunday Market and South Whidbey Tilth Farmers Market. The group will collaborate on advertising efforts for the markets, meet regularly to share common goals, marketing strategies and address issues the markets face.

“We can help each other with basic management issues and rules and regulations that are often confusing,” said Sarah Richards, treasurer for the Coupeville Farmers Market.

The markets already cooperate on projects when needed. Last year, the Bayview Market donated funds to the South Whidbey Tilth to help off-set the costs required to bring the Tilth market up to county code.

The first goal for the coalition is letting people know where and when the farmers markets are open.

“Many people don’t even know there are five markets on Whidbey,” said the Greenbank market’s Issy Olivia.

Many people associated with the farmers markets credit Richards for making the first move toward unifying Whidbey farmers markets. Three years ago she began publishing guides to “Whidbey’s Country Farms Roadside Stand and Farm Network”.

The idea has blossomed to include almost a dozen farms, nurseries and artists, in addition to all five farmers markets and is always looking to list others.

Owner of the Lavender Wind Farm, Richards has sold regularly at markets in Coupeville, Greenbank and Oak Harbor since 2000. She said farmers market sales consisted of 70 percent of her farm’s income last year.

“I wouldn’t exist how I do now if it wasn’t for the markets,” she said.

The markets are currently gearing up for the beginning of market season with vendor meetings. The coalition will continue to work together in the preparation since many of the markets have the same vendors, growers and crafters.