Westminster Farmers' Market

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

 I KNOW they are predicting showers for Friday, but that has been the prediction every Friday for the past 6 weeks – and we have not had rain during the farmers’ market yet!  So don’t be put off by the forecast!

 Music this week by the talented Heidi-Jo Hanson!  So don’t forget to lend an ear to our boom-box and listen to this local talent! 

 DON”T FORGET Father’s Day!  He will love a gift package of beef and pork for summer grilling!  For dinner, get a delicious steak and some sausage and try the meringue recipe below for dessert!  Add some cut flowers too – this is the time of year you should have a nice fresh arrangement on your nightstand or in your bathroom.  Peonies (which are far more beautiful and longer lasting than roses) are .25 per stem and you can put together a beautiful bouquet by visiting several vendors that also have cut flowers.

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

 Massachusetts Local Food Update (www.MassFoodCoop.org): Delivery day worked out well last Friday.  Producers are working on updating products now and we are hoping to have a few new producers for next month, especially eggs and milk.  Orders open again on June 23^rd for the next delivery day which will be July 10^th.

 Last week we had about 11 vendors at the market with loads of products including our June staples of asparagus and rhubarb and vegetable plants and perennials.  This week, although the weather is threatening AGAIN, the day should clear and we are hoping to have good attendance so our existing producers still want to set up. 

 This week, we are expecting beef, pork, eggs, rhubarb pie, rhubarb crisp, salad greens, herbs, breads (you may want to try Ann Patsis’s Olive Onion Loaf, it is delicious with cream cheese!), asparagus, rhubarb, jam, Smith’s country cheese…

 In addition we expect perennials, soaps and locations, hand creams, incense, hand painted tin pieces including Mailboxes and antique reproductions, ornaments, quilted items, tote bags, jewelry…

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

Massachusetts Local Food – Delivery Day is Friday.  Stop by the booth if you want more information on this incredible opportunity to bring local food to you on a year round basis.  We may have a bit of leftover organic, fair-trade coffee from Dean’s Beans for sale.  All proceeds from this product benefit local food pantries.

Although the weather was threatening, last Friday was another great day on Academy hill.  We were busy for most of the afternoon with customers looking for meat and bread – and information on Massachusetts Local Food!  This week I am planning to add more loaves of cinnamon bread and Finnish coffee bread as these sold out by 4:30.  Remember that you can order ahead (by emailing me tonight) if you want something reserved. 

Showers are expected this week and remember, rain or shine, you still have to eat this week and you deserve great food.  If the market doesn’t have much for fresh vegetables this week (though it may), it won’t be long before peas and lettuce are available in abundance.  Strawberries are ripening too, though ours are not completely red yet – perhaps next week…

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

The coop is here!  Mass Local Food – our online Farmers’ Market is now stocked with over 150 products and more producers are signing up this week.  Customer ordering opened yesterday and will close on June 1^st.  Anything you order will be delivered to the Westminster Farmers Market on June 5^th.  You will arrive at the Mass Local Food booth and your order will be ready.  If you miss this order cycle, you will have to wait until the end of June to place your next order.  We have some fantastic producers listed offering honey, meat, spreadable fruits, jams, baked goods, soaps, herbs, and even fair-trade organic coffee that is roasted in Orange.  It is in my house now and the smell is heavenly!  It was just roasted yesterday!  So, if you have a minute, at least go online and read about our interesting producers!  We are also having a meet and greet pot luck dinner this Sunday, May 24th at 6:00PM at the Congregational Church, 138 Main St., Westminster.  Kelley O’Connor will give a short presentation about how to log in and shop, and Sheryl Vaillette and I will be there to answer any questions you have.  www.MassFoodCoop.org/shop.

Now, back to the Farmers’ Market…

Last week we had 9 vendors at our market.  That is an excellent showing considering the time of year and the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables that are available now.  Still, there was plenty of food to purchase, plants to add to your garden and useful items for your home.

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend and we can meet your barbeque needs, so don’t forget to stop by for some of the freshest food money can buy.  The quality and freshness of local farmers is better than Whole Foods and our market prices are better, too!  And we are much closer, and a lot more fun!  The children I see at our market are running around having fun.  I have yet to see too many happy children getting dragged through Whole Foods or any grocery store for that matter!

Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm 

 Massachusetts Local Food – Delivery Day is Friday.  Stop by the booth if you want more information on this incredible opportunity to bring local food to you on a year round basis.  We may have a bit of leftover organic, fair-trade coffee from Dean’s Beans for sale.  All proceeds from this product benefit local food pantries.

 Although the weather was threatening, last Friday was another great day on Academy hill.  We were busy for most of the afternoon with customers looking for meat and bread – and information on Massachusetts Local Food!  This week I am planning to add more loaves of cinnamon bread and Finnish coffee bread as these sold out by 4:30.  Remember that you can order ahead (by emailing me tonight) if you want something reserved. 

Last week was very busy at the farmers’ market.  We had about 9 booths and they were all hopping throughout the entire afternoon.  The amount of food items is increasing each week both prepared and whole!  I saw some incredible looking prepared sandwiches at Ann Patsis booth – they were meal sized and you may consider stopping by her booth for supper!  We had vendors with beef, pork, kale, swiss chard, salad greens, radish, rhubarb, asparagus, herbs, eggs, Capri goat cheese along with Smith’s country cheese.  Also available: breads (olive, feta, garlic, cinnamon, Finnish, English muffin, hamburger rolls, gluten-free), rhubarb pie and crisp, jam, seedlings, annuals, cakes and cookies.  Read about the nutritional value of Kale http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kale and swiss chard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kale.  It will definitely make you want to include it at your dinner table!

Please consider reducing your trash and recycling.Reusing an item is more beneficial to the environment than recycling it (which can be done when it is no longer useful) so be kind to our town and donate what you have in your recycle bin!We will have a bin available where you can leave items for vendors to reuse!The following items are needed:garden center pots, seed six packs, egg cartons, small/medium glass jars, coffee grounds, empty 50 lb brown paper sacks -- food grade, unwanted coolers in good condition.