Agriculture and commerce has always been part of Hoquiam and the Grays Harbor area farmers all around Washington state have endeavored to bring their fresh produce from their beautiful productive farms to the communities of the Grays Harbor area to supply the mixed population of official residents and temporary ones who in the past worked for the logging firms, mills and shingle factories in the area.
The first settlers of the land were Indian tribes that hunted and fished for their survival and the Grays Harbor forest and the rivers and coast that bordered or came through the land gave these early peoples a plentiful source of food and other items like skins and furs for clothing and bone and sinew for their various tools. The city of Hoquiam its name rather is an Indian term which meant “hungry for wood” and those who came to Grays Harbor after the brave tribes were indeed also worthy of the descriptive name.
The forest an old growth one supplied good wood and a multitude of people descended on the lumber treasure either as investors, workers or entrepreneurs seeking their fortunes from the ancient trees that dotted clustered and dotted the forest and harvest lumber they did, day in day out, working like there was no tomorrow finding little time to tend to their basic needs like the olden times, there was money to be made to provide for those needs through lumber.
The workers of the various paper and pulp mills and logging concerns increased steadily in numbers and the men and women who worked in these camps needed more supplies to feed and provide them with the basic necessities. More men meant more opportunities for farmers and other businesses to thrive.
Aside from meat and cereals and grain men needed fish and in the good old days the rivers and coast were a very good source of seafood and fresh they were. The earlier settlers came about catching their own when time allowed them or special fishing and foraging parties were organized to provide the logging camps their protein requirements.
The Grays Harbor Farmers Market provides a menagerie of cooked and raw freshwater species seafood. Perch, trout and the salmon are some of the tastier catch and depending on the fishing season they are quite easy to come by. Some of the stalls are award manned by award winning cooks and chefs who offer scrumptious dishes with only the freshest of ingredients coming from the farmers and fishermen of Grays Harbor.
Since the lumber business started in Hoquiam and the Grays Harbor, the increased number of people seasonally and the increasing number of residents gave to an ever increasing amount of needs for food and other necessities that such men require. It was good business for both sides since the lumber men were able to concentrate on what they needed to do and the farmers and other suppliers had good business.
You can experience the same things that thousands of people from the not so distant past have experienced in Grays Harbor and in Hoquiam city, a sense of welcome like no other. If you hunger or taste for good food, wine and beer, or you enjoy music and the arts or you are simply looking for a good bargain or a business opportunity then the Grays Harbor Farmers Market and Craft Fair is the place for you, The market operates twelve months a year so this is something long term and needs commitment, just how people in the Grays Harbor area and the residents of Hoquiam like doing their business.
Check out Wade Entezar and the lumber town of Hoquiam and it’s farmer’s market recognize the past and its riverfront property.
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