Generations at Work – How Family Legacy Shaped Whidbey Island’s Three Sisters Market
On Whidbey Island, the story of Three Sisters Market is more than just one of good food—it’s about a family’s devotion to land, legacy, and community. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the market is a gathering place for island residents and visitors alike, offering shelves lined with products grown, raised, and crafted right here in the Pacific Northwest.
For the three Donwen sisters, that devotion began long before the market’s doors opened. Farming was woven into daily life as children, with chores that quickly became traditions and lessons that shaped who they are today. Now, as adults raising families of their own, they’ve carried those same rhythms forward, building a business that feels less like a storefront and more like an extension of the family table.
At the heart of Three Sisters Market and Three Sisters Farm is the Donwen family farm, a fifth-generation operation established in 1910. Here, the family raises 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef, along with pork, lamb, and other meats. These animals aren’t just raised locally—they’re fed entirely on crops grown on the farm itself. As Roshel Donwen, one of the three sisters behind the market, explains: “We birth, raise, and harvest all of our beef. Everything they eat, we raise. It’s grass—and we grow that really well here on Whidbey Island, so we nurture it and take care of it, and it takes care of our animals.” Their pork and chickens thrive on barley and grain harvested from their own fields and lamb and cow graze on lush pastures. This closed-loop approach keeps every step of the process rooted in the island’s soil.
Running Three Sisters Market is a true family affair. Roshel manages the market, her oldest sister oversees animal husbandry, their mother handles meat distribution to other outlets, and their father tends the land and grows the feed. Even the sixth generation is already lending a hand—washing and packing eggs, helping on the farm, and learning the rhythms of agricultural life. “Seeing our daughters be a part of the sixth generation is something really special,” Roshel says. “The farm was life for us growing up, so it’s tradition now.” The beauty of their teamwork lies in its balance: each member has a defined role, yet the shared passion for farming and the community keeps them deeply connected.
The market itself has grown into a hub for much more than the Donwin farm’s own products. At any given time, roughly 150 local makers are represented on the shelves. From pies and breads to wine, beer, and Whidbey- or Camano-themed gifts, the selection is constantly rotating to keep things fresh and give visitors a reason to return. For many artisans, the market is a rare platform that brings their craft to both loyal locals and curious tourists, helping them test and grow their businesses in a supportive space.
Roshel explains how tourism, in fact, plays a major role in the market’s success, where visitors to Whidbey Island often come looking for an authentic taste of the region, and Three Sisters delivers—whether that’s a jar of locally made jam, a bottle of Washington wine, or a package of their own farm-raised beef to take home. “Tourism is a huge part of our business and we wouldn’t be in business without it,” Roshel explains. That connection between visitor and place is part of what makes the market special; it’s not just a stop for groceries, but a place where travelers can carry a piece of Whidbey home with them, and Roshel admires being able to bring that special component from her very own family to beyond.
What began as a way to meet the growing demand that outpaced the farmers market circuit has become something far more enduring. Three Sisters Market is a reflection of its roots—where a century-old farming tradition meets modern community spirit. It’s where three sisters, and now their daughters, prove every day that when you nurture the land, the land nurtures back. It’s a reminder that food doesn’t just come from a store—it comes from people who care.
And at its heart, that spirit has always been family. The Donwens know the farm’s story is still being written every day, with their daughters stepping in just as they once did, learning what it means to care for the land and the animals. What once felt like childhood chores — gathering eggs, tending to animals, helping at the market — are now traditions that connect one generation to the next. The rhythm of farm life becomes a kind of inheritance, one that teaches patience, respect for the land, and pride in honest work.
For visitors, that continuity is part of the experience. Each cut of beef carries the imprint of a family who has chosen, time and again, to remain rooted on Whidbey Island and to share that devotion with their neighbors. In the Donwens’ hands, food is never just food; it’s a story of legacy, connection, and care. And as the daughters of the fifth generation continue the tradition and the sixth generation grow into their roles, it’s clear that Three Sisters Market will continue to thrive not just as a business, but as a family tradition carried proudly into the future.
