July 1st Preview and Specials!  Music by Eddie Dee, Great Day to Stock Up for the July 4th Holiday!

Eddie Dee will be our musician for the day on our July 1 market day, with both Aaronap Cellars AND Pony Shack Cider on hand so you can stock up for the July 4th holiday! As always, we will have lots of freshly picked produce, pastured farm fare, all kinds of specialty foods, and some great artisan products, as well. The Wakefield Farmers Market will be at Hall Park, on the shores of Lake Quannapowitt, each Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. from. from June 17 through October 14, 2017. To give directions to a friend, just tell them to use 468 North Ave via GPS.

Local musician Eddie Dee, man of many songs, will be here for his first visit of the season. Eddie has been playing out for years and is also one of the key sound people at Linden Tree Coffeehouse. His smooth voice and wide repertoire folksy tunes and more are a perfect fit for a farmers market, whether you are shopping or want to sit to listen for a spell. The Wakefield Farmers Market Music Program is sponsored by The Savings Bank.

Yarrow will be on hand with his super balloon twisting skills, we will have the Kid’s Activity tent set up and stocked with plenty of paper and crayons, and will of course have hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, and jump ropes on hand for kids of all ages.

Don’t miss stopping by our Market Kitchen tent to where we share easy, healthy, tasty ways to use one or more types of produce offered by our farmers each week. We are not yet sure what we’ll be cooking up this week, but it will be with an eye toward creating any easy side or two for you July 4th gathering. And, while we don’t work with “PHFs” (potentially hazardous foods) at the market, we WILL be sharing a splendidly easy way to prepare frozen steak with no defrosting necessary – perfect for you purchases from Lilac Hedge Farm, plus other grilling tips. You will find the Market Kitchen tent to the left of the Market Manager tent. Cooking demos typically start around 10:15 a.m.

NEWSFLASH: Due to some farming issues, Flats Mentor Farm is still not able to come. Stay tuned for more news.

Before we go to the vendor list, here are this week’s specials and news from our vendors in the order received:

Now, here’s what you’ve been waiting for – the official list of week’s vendors!

Produce: Charlton Orchards, Farmer Dave, and Kelly's Farm will have even more fresh produce as we get further into the summer season. Raspberries will be just as plentiful as strawberries, summer squashes are coming in, and there will be plenty of greens, tomatoes, garlic scapes, onions, radishes and more. You can also get lovely eggs from Charlton Orchards.

Dried Legumes: Check it out! Farmer Dave’s now brings Baer’s Beans to our market! Grown and dried in Maine by Farmers Charley and Carol Baer, they are the best and so fresh there is no need to soak before cooking.

Pasture-raised Meats, Poultry, and Eggs: Lilac Hedge Farm will have all you need for locally raised meats, poultry, and eggs, along with their local. honey. They also have yummy jerky type products, including dog treats, as well. AND, stock up on steaks, sausages, and ground beef and pork for the grill! There will be plenty of tips, as well as instructions for cooking frozen steaks with no defrosting necessary at the Market Kitchen Tent!

Fish: Our friend Michelle Kraft aka The Fish Lady will be here with great seafood from Red’s Best, whose labels tell you who caught your fish from our local waters.

Cheese: West River Creamery. Jane and her family make the very best cheese around. Really! Bet you can’t try a sample without buying some. And, STOCK UP THIS WEEK! Jane needs to take next Saturday off from our market.

Specialty Foods: Deano's Pasta, In Good Taste (Salsa!!!!) Jane’s Old School Kitchen line that you’ll find at West River Creamery’s tent, and check out Farmer Dave’s stand for dried apples, jarred sauces, and more made from their produce depending on the week.

Baked Goods: Goodies Homemade, Mamadou's Artisan Bakery (have you tried their Asiago bread?), Swiss Bakers (pretzels rolls!), The Popover Lady, The Bread Shop, and The Roasted Granola, which also offers local honey and locally made yogurt.

Beverages: Aaronap Cellars, Pony Shop Cider, plus Pour Man’s Coffee with the very best hot or cold coffee and refreshing fruit and tea beverages around. They also have unique treat to enjoy at the market as well as Fair Trade coffee beans from Dean’s Beans to take home.

Pet Treats: Emmett’s Edibles (treats for dogs AND cats that are always a hit!)

Artisans: Kittredge Candles, Salem Street Beadery, and Sheepshed. Alison Simcox and Doug Heath will also be here with their great books about Lake Quannapowitt, Breakheart, and The Middlessex Fells.

Coming Up: Music from, to name a few, Betty’s Bounce, duos from both the Katrina Marie Band and Los Sugar Kings, a visit from Northshore 104.9, and, to be scheduled, visits from Drumlin Farms and Curious Creatures. Plus: hold September 9 for the Friends of Beebe Library Book Give-Away!

Want to help? Go to the How To Volunteer page on our website or stop by the Market Manager table to learn how. Many hands make a better market for all.

The market will continue to accept both SNAP/EBT and credit/debit cards for the purchase of Market Bucks for shopping, and will again be matching SNAP purchases up to $10 per visit so that everyone can afford to get fresh and healthy foods at our market.

The Wakefield Farmers Market runs RAIN OR SHINE (except in dangerous weather, e.g. lightning or hurricane conditions). The market opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 1:00 p.m. every Saturday starting June 17 through October 14, 2017. Please visit www.wakefieldfarmersmarket.org for a current listing of vendors and upcoming events and to sign up for our email newsletter. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. See you at the Market!