Wenatchee Conference Tours: A Perspective

I might have had the good fortune of meeting several of you in person in my short time with the Washington Food Coalition, but I would like to take this time to formally introduce myself. My name is Sariga Santhosh and I am an AmeriCorps VISTA member with the Washington Food Coalition. This year, I took over some aspects of conference planning as part of my service duties, which is why I am writing to you today. I recently went on a trip to Wenatchee to get a better understanding of the exciting tours we have planned this year at our conference and I wanted to cast a spotlight on a couple of tours I personally enjoyed. 

Driving around on a beautiful Wenatchee afternoon

Community Cupboard and Downtown Leavenworth

My trip to Wenatchee started in the whimsical town of Leavenworth to take a peek at Community Cupboard, a local organization that does a whole lot of good in its community. Community Cupboard started as a food bank in the basement of a Methodist church in 1983. Thanks to a generous donation by the town of Leavenworth, the food bank today has relocated to a larger space that stays open 6 days a week and serves about 250 families a month.  Since its humble beginnings, it has grown to accommodate a thrift store and an emergency services agency that provides local residents with emergency shelter, rent, transportation, and utility assistance throughout the year.

The thrift store

The food bank

An emergency shelter space

It was interesting to see how successfully Community Cupboard operates. The entire organization is staffed primarily by a team of dedicated volunteers.  I met a gentleman named Stuart, who has been with Community Cupboard for over 25 years! Community Cupboard relies almost wholly on sales from the thrift store and the generosity of its donors to sustain itself. However, the organization is a beloved fixture that provides countless services to the locals who consider it a valuable resource. I overheard an exchange between a regular customer and a staff member about how grateful they are for Community Cupboard in their small town; a place they can rely on to put food on their tables. It struck me that in towns like Leavenworth, where non-profits and other social services agencies are rare, organizations like Community Cupboard shoulder the main, if not the sole, responsibility for the welfare of its clientele. My time at Community Cupboard reminded me why people like Stuart do what they do: their commitment to giving back to their neighbors in need.

Some volunteers busy at work!

After the tour, I headed to downtown Leavenworth to grab lunch and stroll through a town that can best be described as ‘Little Bavaria.’ Everything from the family-owned stores selling German fare, accordion players in the street, to restaurants serving bratwursts and schnitzel, stayed as authentic as possible to its roots. This area is a tourist’s dream come true with several specialty shops that sell cute knick knacks, friendly locals, and the beautiful Cascades providing a gorgeous backdrop to the already picturesque town.  I had a lot of fun on this tour and look forward to returning to Leavenworth in the near future!

Downtown Leavenworth

Pybus Public Market

Next, I headed to downtown Wenatchee’s newest attraction, Pybus Public Market to figure out what the deal was with the area’s version of Seattle’s Pike Place Market. The market is situated in the renovated shop of Wenatchee native and blacksmith, E.T Pybus. The market boasts original rafters, beams, and flooring from the early 20th century store. Today, the space is dominated by specialty stores that consist of a florist, a candy store, a tea store, a fish market, and a French-German bakery, to name a few.

Concept drawing of completed market

The restored shop of E.T Pybus, now Wenatchee's newest hot spot!

My tour started with a lesson in history by one of the market managers, Alex. After giving me an insightful account of the life of one of Wenatchee’s most notable citizens, E.T Pybus, we walked around the market, looking at the locally-owned businesses that call this newest local attraction 'home.’ The stores at Pybus are as eclectic as they are interesting. For instance, there is a fun shop called D’Olivo that specializes in infused olive oil. Another interesting component of Pybus Market is their state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen, which can be rented by the public for cooking classes and catering purposes. However, Pybus Public Market’s biggest draw is in the name itself: it is a market. Their farmer’s market is open every Wednesdays and Saturdays for an impressive 5 hours and accommodates hundreds of local farmers and businesses. While acting informally as a museum to honor the legacy and work of E.T Pybus, it also serves as a unique community center, drawing people of all ages with its multiple attractions.

Stores at Pybus Public Market (additional store openings in September)

Dinner at South, a Southern American fusion restaurant that uses all Wenatchee-grown products in its menu. Yum!

When I visited the market in late June, Pybus Public Market was just gearing up for its official opening weekend on June 22^nd. By September, more unique stores will be opening in the market. The market has recruited a local sculptor, who has been working on site on a bronze sculpture of E.T Pybus all summer. The piece is scheduled to be unveiled a week before the conference. Starting this summer, a restored rail car will periodically run through the market and act as a stage to the various musical acts that wish to perform. Since the weather promises to be beautiful in September, another option for conference attendees would be to rent bicycles and explore the nearby waterfront. And finally, for those wishing to stick around Wenatchee a few hours after the conference or through the weekend, check out their artisan market between 5 PM and 8 PM that occurs every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. With so many fun choices to choose from, Pybus Public Market promises to have something for everyone!

Snowdrift Company

My third and final tour of the day was at this charming, 60 acre orchard run by 5^th generation apple-growers, the Ringsruds. This family-run operation started experimenting with hard ciders in 2009 and has since grown to include several varieties, including the award-winning Cidermaker’s Reserve, which placed 1st in a competition in England, and a pear cider. Everything from the harvesting of the fruits to the corking of bottles is done by hand, making this a true artisan cidery. Each member of the family has a unique role in the business. From learning under expert cider makers in Europe to taking agriculture classes at the local college, the diverse products of Snowdrift Company reflects the Ringsruds’ commitment to putting out a superior product.  

Apples from the Ringsrud orchard

The tour started in the family’s renovated shed, which doubles as the cider factory. This space houses barrels upon barrels of product that can sit as long as 18 to 20 months before hitting the shelves of local retailers. Each genius contraption comes with an explanation of its purpose in the cider making process. As a novice to the process, I found every detail fascinating. My tour guide, Lars might as well be a walking encyclopedia of all things apple. He thoroughly explained the complex undertones present in each of my 4 samples, while we strolled around the orchard looking at the types of apple used in their ciders.  Their orchard produces over 40 varieties of applies, which range from the traditional such as the Red Delicious to more exotic French and British versions like the Yarlington Mill, Kingston Black, and Dabinette.

Snowdrift Ciders

With an intimate knowledge of the taste, texture, and other characteristics of all the apples they grow, the Ringsrud family has been combining different combinations of fruit to produce their unique beverages to please the palate of even the pickiest cider snob. All ciders are available for purchase on site. Ciders are also available at select Whole Foods, PCC, Central Market and Zupan’s. I would highly encourage cider lovers to attend this tour. Between the delicious samples, your tour guide’s genuine love and interest in his work, and the breathtaking views from the orchard, this is a tour you don’t want to miss!