Yakima Fruit Market & Nursery

I LOVE THIS PLACE. I’ve been coming here on and off for a few years, since it’s relatively close to my current residence. It’s a gem and I wish I came more, and that it was open year round.
Pros:
1) CHEAP, but good quality produce.
2) Variety
3) Seasonality
4) Apples (LOVE)
5) SQUASH FOR .69/​lb!
6) Easy to access on 522, plenty of parking to the left of the store.
7) Cheap pumpkins.
8) BEST PRICE ON PERSIMMONS AROUND.
Cons:
1) Most things are NOT organic, so if this is an issue, now you know.
2) Not everything is season or local, so don’t come in expecting this.
3) They do sell a lot of «low quality» junky type food that’s dispersed around the store, I wish they would just focus on the awesome veggies.

I want to love this place, and I do try to by frequently visiting. However, the quality is just too inconsistent.
Sometimes the fruit will be so fresh and juicy, while other times they’re all bruised or have nicks in them.
The pricing is usually like $ 0.20/lb more than at the grocery store but they’ve got a good selection of different fruits that sometimes the grocery store won’t have.
I would not buy blackberries, blueberries, or strawberries here, however. They can usually be found considerable cheaper at the grocery chains.

Taste the Rainbow of flavors. This is the go to place for the best fruit and veggies.

Always get my homemade pickle supplies here! :) Such a unique place! I dropped a star because the location is DEATH DEFYING… Bothell Way is seriously a death just waiting to happen. You have to step on it 60 MPH to gut across traffic, then slam on your breaks as you have just landed in a parking place.

The gentleman that helped us was very personable and knowledgeable about his food products. He let us sample several peaches and he had a wide variety to select from. What I found even more charming was that his 12-​year-​old daughter was working the cash register during the summer. She was delightful to talk to and already you could tell she had the entrepreneurial spirit. Fabulous fruit stand, I would recommend it to anyone in the neighborhood.

Bought Honey Crisps for $ 1.49 lb! Got an entire box of fresh fruits and vegetables for $ 35. Had a nice chat with the owner. What a great guy! Employees were upbeat and friendly. So nice to shop at a market where the staff is happy. It makes such a difference.

This seemed like a neat road side fruit stand so I dropped by hoping for some fresh and inexpensive produce. Prices were pretty comparable to nearby chain grocery stores, especially for seasonal items (tomatoes were in) and apples but more expensive than other fruit stands I frequent. Produce seemed reasonably fresh too.
My main complaint is the incredibly long line and how slow it was moving, even with three check stands open. (I went on a Saturday afternoon). To me, it’s not worth it.

I am disappointed that this place that only opens a few months a year, cannot find employees that are actually nice and helpful. I have been going there three years, the couple of times I have actually asked for something, I didn’t get much help, but I ignored it, but today, it bothered me. I asked for help with pineapples, as the sign says: «Ask for help to get the best pineapple!» The guy goes… «Well, they are all the same». Me: «Are they ready to eat?» «If you want». Me: Are they ripe?” «They are all the same». Me: «Should I wait?» «I would wait».
I get to the register, and the guy NOT ONCE looked me in the face. He just kept looking at space… really uncomfortable experience. I decided not to go there again.

Good fresh quality products. Prices are based on the market pressure. Nice big new crop fuji apples, WOW.

Ideally, I’d give this market 3.5 stars, but half stars are not an option, alas.
I was referred to this market by co-​workers and Unilocalers alike, so I had high hopes for it. Quite frankly, I don’t get the hype. Granted, they have a nice gardening area, so if you’re into the plantings, this might be a good spot to check out. But if you’re only interested in the produce, as I was, there are better markets out there.
It’s really, really hard for me to get over the parking situation here. Seriously, you take your life in your hands when you pull into the parking slots in front of the market. In order to exit, you have to back up into traffic, on busy Bothell Way/​Rte 522. This is a 4-​lane, well-​travelled highway. How is this okay? And, God forbid, you need to exit to go eastbound, you not only have to back up into traffic, but you need to cross four lanes of highway traffic to face east. I nearly died a dozen deaths with this maneuver the other day! So be forwarned! ONLY stop at this market if you plan on continuing westward afterwards! (I’m not kidding!).
As for the produce itself… yes, everything looked lovely and I stocked up on a lot of lettuces and berries and miscellaneous veggies. But the prices weren’t low, as other reviewers claimed. And I’m okay with that, as I expect the quality to be better, and the fare, fresher, than at, say, QFC or Safeway. But cheap it is not. And there was a cluster-​f at the cashiers, with two guys cutting in front of me as I dutifully waited under the «cashier» arrow sign (shoppers come from the left and right and just step up to the cash while other suckers, like me, wait where we are told to. FYI). I didn’t like this set-​up.
Personally, I find the selection way better, and the parking, IMMEASURABLY better (and SAFER) at other produce markets around town.

Always feels like a breath of fresh air when you see them open again for the spring… Love this place :-)

Great prices on local produce! Customer service is amazing, just have to ask for help or ideas, and they are wonderful, not pushy. Worth the trip!

I came here with my family looking for a christmas tree. There appeared to be an abundance of trees, big and small… all bearing large price tags. This left me a bit disappointed.
The parking can be a bit tricky on this high traffic road.

The quality of the fruits and vegetables you’ll find here is at least as good as you’ll find in you local supermarket and often better. Lots of good veggies in good shape to pick from. Not the crazy selection you’ll find at Uwajimaya, but not bad at all.
Sadly, they are not open all year round, because they are limited to the ‘produce season’. They shut down for the year last weekend, so no more Yakima for me until spring. I stop planning to go there after Halloween each year. And, since two sides of the building are open, it probably gets more than a little brisk for the employees who would have be there in mid-​January.
I see that various reviewers complain about the parking. It’s not that bad if you’re not driving the Escalade. Drive the BMW that day and you’ll be just fine.

I love love love Yakima Fruit Stand!
Whenever I can I get my fruits and produce from here. Everything is fresh and the prices are incredible. The fruits and veggies here are so much better than the ones at your local, regular grocery store and cheaper too.
They have the juiciest, sweetest strawberries I’ve ever had! They are at their best late summer. I also buy my little sugar pumpkins here during the Fall for pumpkin pie.
Not only do they have great fruit and produce but they also have a pretty amazing selection of flowers, plants and nursery items.
Customer service is top notch. The staff are always helpful and friendly. They are open March-​October, 7 days a week. This place is truly a gem so if your ever in Bothell, I highly recommend it.

Wow! First time giving the Yakima Fruit Market a go and it’s so great. Prices beat the grocery store chains and the produce is better quality. LOVED the fact that I was able to pick up some veggie starts for my garden and flowers for my front steps, too. The employees were friendly and helpful. Happy, happy customer! My only complaint is the parking. It wasn’t fun trying to back up with a fast-​moving highway behind you.

This is like the Target of produce stands.
I go here for one item, like brussels sprouts and walk out with every vegetable imaginable.

Love Yakima Fruit Market! My mom always took me here as a kid and I’m happy to be shopping here again on my own.
Good music and upbeat employees make for a fun environment (I can’t be the only person who gets anxious and stressed in grocery stores), and the colorful spread of impeccably fresh produce is lights up the place and makes me smile.
I don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy their nutrient-​rich produce, either. I read about a study recently the expensive reputation of farmer’s markets (
) but how many of them are not more than supermarket chain stores, and I always feel like I’m getting more bang for my buck at Yakima because the food is in such better shape.
Keep doing what you’re doing YFM, we love you!!!

There’s not much parking at this lovely little open-​air fruit and veg stand but there’s loads of reasons to wait for an open space. From apples to zucchini, they sell seasonally available fruit that’s sourced from the Yakima area of eastern Washington. There’s other goodies available like the Goya dry goods against the wall and other local items like milk, eggs and honey. It can get pretty busy on weekends so I’ll try to go during the day before rush hour. I’ve rarely had a problem getting a parking spot [knock wood] and the employees are helpful with any questions you might have. And I learned on my last visit here that this fruit stand has been around for over seventy years. Wow!

On the way back from a trip up north, picked up a couple of personal sized watermelons. It is slightly higher in price but a notch bigger than your normal personal sized melons. It was juicy, sweet, and red; some of the best I have tasted in a looong while! Perfect for the warm, short summer here in Seattle.