Chipotle Ponies Up for Farmer Appreciation Day at U-District Farmers Market

Do-gooder burrito-makers Chipotle Mexican Grill have been holding Farmer Appreciation Days for three years now. On the day in question, Chipotle feeds farmers and market volunteers free, piping-hot burritos as a way of saying thanks for the effort.

But knowing you have to bring enough to share, they're also giving the first 100 market customers canvas shopping bags and "burrito bucks" (which will get you a free entrée at Chipotle).

This Saturday, October 16, they're celebrating Farmer Appreciation Day at the U-District Farmers Market. Starting at noon, the first 100 people to visit their green tent (SE entrance, across the street from Jack in the Box) get the bags and bucks.

But wait, there's more!

There's a fundraiser for the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance (NFMA) next Tuesday, October 19, from 5 to 9 p.m. All 11 Seattle-area Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants are participating. Bring in this flyer when you order dinner (again, between 5 and 9 p.m.), and Chipotle will donate 50 percent of the proceeds to the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance’s Good Farmer Fund (an emergency relief fund for market farmers who lose income due to weather, flooding or personal hardship). They've committed to $5,000, which is a lot of burritos, so maybe skip lunch on Tuesday.