September 16, 2017 Market Day: Storytime at 10:30! Live Music All Day! Apples, Berries, Veggies & Sasquatch Woodworks, Too!

We are looking at a perfect market day this week, with great live music all the day, a storytime for the kids, and great weather, to boot! And, like last week, we are now seeing more squashes, broccoli, and potatoes at the market, along with apples and maybe even some pears, while still seeing plenty of summer berries and stone fruits, eggplant, lovely greens, tomatoes, sweet corn, and more still available.

The Wakefield Farmers Market takes place at Hall Park, on the shores of Lake Quannapowitt, each Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. through October 14, 2017. To give directions to a friend, just tell them to use 468 North Ave via GPS.

TAKE NOTE, it's time to VOTE! It is time to keep our market on the map via the American Farmland Trust Annual Farmers Market Celebration!

HELP KEEP OUR MARKET ON THE MAP! We are currently in the top 100 nationally but only 2nd in Massachusetts. Let’s fix this!

Go to: markets.farmland.org and type in 01880, or use the handy link on our wakefieldfarmersmarket.org website to “recommend” our Wakefield Farmers Market today!

BANJOS! And a FIDDLE! We will have two of the best old-timey banjo musicians around playing at our market this week. Ed Britt and Don Borchelt will be back, playing five-string banjo duets in the old-time clawhammer and three finger styles of banjo picking. Ed and Don are both multiple past winners of the annual Lowell Fiddle and Banjo Contest. They are joined by fiddler John Maguire. John says he really enjoys playing fiddle with "Texas headphones" on each ear! These talented gentlemen will be playing most of the day.

The Wakefield Memorial High School Alumni Foundation (WMHSAF) will be our nonprofit guest this week. Founded in 2006, the foundation’s mission is to work with the administration and community to support the education of our students. Along with supporting specific special projects, WMHSAF gives a $500 scholarship to a graduating student each year and presents an Alumni Hall of Fame award on a biannual basis. Stop by and show your support by purchasing a handy seat cushion decorated with the WMHS logo to use at sporting events, as a kneeler in your garden, or just to dress up your den or family room.

The Wakefield Beebe Library Pop Up Library is here for their monthly visits! Along with learning about the wonderful programs offered by the library, you can check out books, and even sign up for a library card if you don’t have one. I hear there will be plenty of cookbooks on hand for borrowing. STORY TIME will be at 10:30! And, all through the day, supplies (as long as they last) will be on hand for kids to make nature suncatchers from paper plates, ribbon, contact paper, and bits of nature that the kids can collect!

Suman Shah of Fork on a Road (forkonaroad.com) will in the Market Kitchen Tent to create a quick, easy, and tasty recipe or two featuring produce available at the market that morning. You will find the Market Kitchen tent to the left of the Market Manager tent. Cooking demos typically start around 10:00 a.m. Stop by to try a bite! You can also find our recipes on our new Market Kitchen Tent website: wfmmarketkitchen.site.

Yarrow will be with us making his magic with balloons, the Kid’s Activity tent will be stocked with plenty of paper and crayons, and we always have hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, and jump ropes on hand for kids of all ages.

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

A&D Books have a new book, The Lost Mill Village of Middlesex Fells, on sale at a great price, and are still offering Breakheart Reservation at a reduced price!
Habibi Gourmet will have eggplant salad this week. Very tasty!
Swiss Bakers will have more of their fabulous sandwiches
The Popover Lady will have popovers large and small, plain, Asiago and cinnamon sugar, and special jalapeño cheese flavor, assorted scones and fruit pies.
Emmett’s Edibles – Pick three of your dog’s favorite flavors and save. Choose from pumpkin, carrot, blueberry, cheese, peanut butter, molasses, and an herb that smells like pizza…yup it really does!
And, don’t forget, SNAP folks can get their HIP benefits at Farmer Dave’s!

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 same great news: they still have plenty of summer fruits and veggies, plus fall produce is also making an appearance. And, don’t miss a stop a Flat’s Mentor Farm for the most amazing herbs, greens, and more. Bitter melon and loofa squash are here!

Dried Legumes: Farmer Dave’s has Baer’s Beans!

Pasture-raised Meats, Poultry, and Eggs: Lilac Hedge Farm has a great assortment of locally raised meats, poultry, and eggs, along with their local. honey. Charlton Orchards also always has eggs along with their other family farm fare.

Cheese: West River Creamery will really be back this week with their fabulous hard, soft, and marinated cheeses. The best!

Seafood: The Fish Lady will be here with the freshest of locally caught seafood. Best to show up early to be sure you can get your first choice.

Specialty Foods: Deano's Pasta, Habibi Gourmet ( Middle Eastern food) and In Good Taste are all here. Farmer Dave’s stand has dried apples, jarred sauces, and REALLY scrumptious fruit breads and more made from their produce depending on the week. Charlton Orchards also has tasty jarred salsa, and jams, and pickles, and delicious pastries and other baked treats from their kitchen, plus their famous cider donuts!

Baked Goods: Goodies Homemade, (caramel corn and cookies) Mamadou's Artisan Bakery, Swiss Bakers, (sandwiches, too) The Bread Shop, The Popover Lady (pies, too), and Roasted Granola, which also. offers local honey and locally made Greek yogurt.

Beverages: Did you know Charlton Orchards has apple cider? They do. For super hard cider, Pony Shack Cider is here this week, and as always, Pour Man’s Coffee, has the best coffee around, as well as refreshing fruit and tea beverages. They also have unique treats to enjoy at the market as well as Fair Trade coffee beans from Dean’s Beans to take home.

Pet Treats: Emmett’s Edibles has wholesome treats for dogs AND even some for cats, plus they always have fun weekly specials.

Artisans: A&D Books, Be U by Rumi (jewelry) and Sasquatch Woodworks.

Coming Up: Music- Gentle Temper is back next week, Amy Spillert on 9/30, our banjo/fiddler trio on 10/7, and the Katrina Marie Band Duo on our 10/14 final market day. The Pop Up Library will be back for their final visit on 10/7.

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.

Our market accepts both SNAP/EBT and credit/debit cards for the purchase of Market Bucks for shopping, and match SNAP purchases up to $10 per visit so that everyone can afford to get fresh and healthy foods at our market. This is in addition to the new HIP program.

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 wakefieldfarmersmarket.org for a current listing of vendors, live music, and special events and to sign up for our email newsletter. See wfmmarketkitchen.site for our recipes! You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. See you at the Market!