Westminster Farmers' Market

 Westminster Farmers’ Market Report from Maple Heights Farm

This Friday at the farmers’ market we are having a cooking demonstration performed by Sheila Lumi of WIC.  She will be demonstrating nutritious recipes using ingredients that she finds in the market.  So stop by for some free samples and recipes. 

 Have you seen the back page of the Community Journal?  This is the voting page for “Best of North Central Massachusetts” and guess what???  They left off “Favorite Farmers’ Market”!!!  I am sure this is just an oversight on their part, and even though my kids are begging to go blueberry picking this morning, I am going to put them off while I contact the organizers of this event in order to have “Farmers’ Market” listed in the vote!  In the meantime, I propose a write-in vote.  Of course you can vote for whichever farmers’ market you choose, but you know that Westminster is running one of the best farmers’ markets in this area!  So vote!  And write in as item 80) Best Farmers’ Market Westminster Farmers’ Market  or the farmers’ market of your choice.  Since this may not work as a category, the Westminster Farmers’ Market gets my vote for “78) Place for family entertainment”.  In addition, Meghan’s “Meetinghouse Café” will get my vote for “36) Coffee Shop/Diner)”, Honeybee Baking Company will get my vote for “44) Desserts”, M.L. Altobelli “17) Garden Store/Nursery” and from there, I’ll have to get creative… and you can bet I will do just that!

 We had an excellent turnout last week, the weather was beautiful and tents dotted the common making the whole scene look so festive.  Add to that the line of cars surrounding the common and the absolutely adorable baby goat brought by Pat Stewart and we really have a successful event!  I think for the most part we are going to continue to see an increase in vendors as each week goes by.  That is thanks to you for attending this market and making it such a success.  Vendors are coming in to “try it out” and they keep coming back!  Last week was also the third “delivery day” for Massachusetts Local Food.  We have two more delivery days that will coincide with the farmers’ market and then we have to find an indoor location.  You probably haven’t thought too much about fresh food for the winter (except maybe putting a few fresh veges into the freezer for Thanksgiving – which I hope you find time to do) but you may want to consider this.  Where will you get fresh food when our farmers’ market closes?  And of course, I have the answer for you.  Consider looking at Mass Local Food to meet your needs this fall and winter.  This cooperative carries only locally produced items and will be available for online ordering with a monthly delivery to Westminster at the beginning of each month.  This is an all-volunteer run cooperative that will bring you meat, cheese, preserves, coffee, tea, breads, desserts, and more!  At this time, many of the vendors that you deal with at the market are already listed and selling on the website.  We hope to add more vendors and round out the products as the markets are closing in October.  And some great news has come to me:  We have been mentioned in the Boston Globe!!!  Read the article here!

 Next week, expect a few more new items in the market.  We have a booth filled with birdhouses and bathouses (stop by and check out the sports themed painted birdhouses – they are beautiful!)  And Bob Richard will be back with his beautiful handcrafted cutting boards.  All these items are worthy as a beautiful and thoughtful Christmas present for someone special.  If Andy doesn’t take the hint, he is going to be getting a beautiful cutting board for Christmas!