Preview of June 22 Opening Day for the Wakefield Farmers Market!

Coming soon!  The Wakefield Farmers Market, winner of the #1 mid-size Massachusetts spot in the American Farmland Trust 2012 Favorite Farmers Market contest, will be back in action starting Saturday June 22 at its lovely Hall Park location on the shores of Lake Quannapowitt.

The market will operates each Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. from June 22 through October 19, 2013. Opening day will feature great live music by students from Wakefield’s Onset School of Music, accompanied by the teaching staff, in what has become a great annual event at the market. Also, word has it that Yarrow the balloon twister will be there, and we just might have a face painting artist joining in the fun!

Along with cooking demos (yes, Holly Pierce will be back!), live music, and special events throughout the season, the market will feature at least 6 produce and/or meat/poultry farmers, 1 fish vendor, 13 locally produced specialty food vendors and 7 artisan/craft vendors, with an average of 18-20 vendors in attendance each week.  There is also space allotted to a local nonprofit organization each week.

Coming back this season are: Ben's Sugar Shack, Barefoot Books, Charlton Orchards, Coutts Specialty Foods, Ellen Garvey Glass, Farmer Dave's, Fior D'Italia Pasta, Flats Mentor Farm, Globe Fish, Goodies Homemade, In Good Taste (Pam's Salsa), John Crow Farm, Kalaidascope Soap, Kelly's Farm, Kittredge Candles, Mamadou's Bread, One the Edge Knife Sharpening,The Popover Lady (Canistracci Fine Foods) Samira Homemade, Swiss Bakers, Tower Root Beer, Trow's Treasures, Wicked Good Soap.

New vendors include: Busy Bee Bakery, Copicut Farm, DD’s Dressing, and 7ate9 Bakery.

Thanks to a generous grant from Mass in Motion, the market accepts both SNAP/EBT and credit/debit cards and, new this year, there are funds to match SNAP purchases up to $10 per visit, so everyone can afford to get fresh and healthy foods at our market.

Also new this year, our market is taking part in the Plant A Carrot Campaign, a program designed to help farmers markets raise funds as well as raise awareness of farmers and farmers markets all across the country.  “Carrots” will be available all season at the market, but to get an early start, be sure to stop by the Wakefield Farmers Market tent at the Festival by the Lake on June 15 to buy a “Carrot” and get entered into a raffle for $25 in Market Bucks!

The Wakefield Farmers Market runs RAIN OR SHINE (except in dangerous weather, e.g. lightening or hurricane conditions).  The market opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 1:00 p.m. every Saturday starting June 22 through October 19, 2013.  Please visit www.wakefieldfarmersmarket.com for a complete listing of vendors and upcoming events and to sign up for the email newsletter.  You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter. See you at the Market!