WALPOLE FARMERS MARKET TO OPEN MAY 21

     It’s about to get easier to buy fresh, local food in Walpole from neighbors who grow it!

     Walpole farmers are happy to announce the creation of a weekly Walpole Farmers Market (WFM). Beginning Friday, May 21, it will be held every Friday from 3 pm until 6 pm throughout the season. Except for three Fridays later in the season when The Common was already reserved for other uses, it will be held on The Walpole Town Common.

     Walpole farmers who sell direct to the public have been working together to draft guidelines for the conduct of the WFM. All Walpole farmers are invited to become members of this cooperative venture and to have a vending space at the market. Farmers from beyond Walpole will be invited to join the WFM to offer products that are not available from Walpole farmers. Prepared food vendors and crafters will also be invited to join the market, in numbers that will compliment, but not overwhelm, the agricultural emphasis of the WFM.

     The WFM is a response to demand from both customers and vendors of fresh local food. TriVillage Energy (TVE), Walpole’s energy committee, has sponsored a number of special occasion Farmers Markets that were wildly successful and met with demands from both sides of the market stand for more markets. At this past Town Meeting, TVE took a survey of voters to assess interest in a regular Farmers Market and to find out when shoppers would like the market to be.

     Of 349 people taking the survey, 342 reported they did want to see a Farmers Market in Walpole. Written comments and the survey takers indicated that this response was not a simple yes, but an excited, enthusiast, vibrant YES!!! The majority of respondents requested that the market be held Friday afternoons.

     Even those voting for a Friday market expressed concern, however, that the WFM not compete with the Bellows Falls Farmers Market, which is also held on Friday afternoons, from 4 pm to 7 pm. Organizers of the WFM shared this concern, and on the survey suggested other possible days and times. Another, but less popular choice with voters, was Sunday afternoon. Many Walpole farmers had a conflict with church or family commitments, so Sunday had to be ruled out. Weekdays got a very weak response on the survey and those had to be ruled out as well. Similarly, Saturdays had conflicts for the farmers and a very weak response on the survey.

     Two Walpole farmers were founding members of the Bellows Falls Market and worked very hard over the years to make that market a success.  Erin Bickford of Abenaki Springs Farm in Walpole said “One or the other of us (referring to her husband, Bruce) was on the Board [of the Bellows Falls market] every year since it began. We spent a lot time and effort struggling to get Walpole farmers and shoppers to participate in the BF Market. But we just couldn’t get that many people from Walpole to go over there. When the bridge went out last year even fewer people wanted to go.”

     Holly Gowdy, of Brookfield Farm in Walpole, another founding member of the Bellows Falls Market, says “I was not able to sell my milk over there. In Vermont, milk can’t be sold at Farmers Markets, and I’m not allowed to take it across state lines anyway.” Virginia Carter, of Barnett Hill Vineyard makes the same point, “The law prohibits me from selling my wine in another state, so Vermont markets don’t work for me.”

     The Bickfords and the Gowdys both feel confident that a successful Walpole Farmers Market will contribute to the success of the Bellows Falls Market. They have noticed that more vendors doing well at a market doesn’t create competition among the vendors, it creates a better overall market that attracts more customers, so that each vendor does better. They feel an additional market in the area will have the same effect. “If the 342 people who responded so positively to the survey develop a stronger commitment to fresh local food, the chances are good that many of them will want to explore other area markets, said Caitlin Caserta, of Walpole’s Valley Farms, “and we will encourage them to do so.”

     It is a part of the mission of the WFM to expand the market for local food, to increase awareness of the value of farm fresh food, to promote the health of the local food shed and economy, and to promote all outlets for local food, including other farmers markets. “A rising tide lifts all boats, and we are committed to making that happen,” Caitlin added.

     While Walpole farmers scurry around to get guidelines finalized, application forms distributed, communication and promotional systems in place, oh, and incidentally to get their crops planted, they want to make sure they have reached all Walpole farmers who might be interested in participating. Inquiries are also welcome from farmers outside of Walpole and potential prepared food and craft vendors. Priority will be given to those from Walpole, but others will be accepted if they offer a product not already represented.

Coordinators for this year’s WFM are Erin Bickford (603-445-2157), Caitlin Caserta (603-756-2805, cait@walpolefarmersmarket.com), and Holly Gowdy (603-445-5104, holly@walpolefarmersmarket.com). Jill Robinson (603-756-3168, jill@walpolefarmersmarket.com), a volunteer with TriVillage Energy, is helping to facilitate the market start up, and is acting as contact person. If you want more information on the WFM, or if you’d like to find out more about the possibility of participating in the WFM, please contact any one of them.

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