Home About Archives RSS Feed

Farmers' Market Sticking to Homegrown, Homemade

Stephanie FarringtonBerkshire Food
North Adams Farmers' Market members met Saturday at Mass MoCA to plan out this year's market.
The North Adams Farmers' Market is getting a head start this year.

 

On Saturday, March 3, organizers of the market met with potential vendors to discuss plans for this year's market.

The meeting was chaired by Market Manager Diana Cirillo and convened by North Adams Director of Tourism and Community Events Veronica Bosley.

A number of issues facing the market were discussed. This year, the market will carry only products that are grown and made by vendors. There will be a restriction on crafts in order to focus on farm produce and home-made goods from around the region.

Eleven potential vendors were in attendance, including Square Roots Farm, Jaeschke's Orchard, Country Dreams Farm and Cricket Creek Farm.

Debate on several issues was heated. In the end, the group settled on a $10 weekly fee and plans to expand the present available methods of payment to include credit and debit cards as well as cash and SNAP benefit cards. 

The group decided to look at planning one or two special weeks during which a combination Farmers' Market and Flea Market may be held as well as making it clear that this year, there will be no canceled dates. 

"I remember when we were canceled for Wilco," said one farmer, "You know, that doesn't work for me. I can't go out into the field and tell the corn to stop growing for a week cause the market's been canceled."

Maryanne Kufs, who runs the EBT machine, responsible for accepting electronic payments and managing coupons and SNAP benefits, said the grant from Wholesome Wave that made it possible to give double dollars to SNAP beneficiaries who use their cards at the market was coming to an end, but there is some money left in the account and other grants are presently being sought to continue the program.

Unlike last year, this year's market marks a return of sorts to its roots. The first North Adams Farmers' Market was held in 1976, initiated by the Chamber of Commerce as part of the Fall Festival of Foliage. This year, the market will be governed by the tourism director, who will seek advice from a volunteer-appointed board made up of individuals from the community, all of whom have an interest in supporting access to local food.

Those wishing to sell baked or canned goods at the market will need a permit from City Hall. And anyone who packages food on-site is required by Massachusetts law to be certified Serve Safe. Fortunately, Greg Roach of Wild Oats Co-Operative Market, a member of the Market Advisory Board, is qualified and will be available to administer the Serve Safe exam at a considerable savings. Greg may be contacted at Wild Oats.

For further questions about this year's market or to ask for a copy of the rules, email Veronica Bosley at vbosley@northadams-ma.gov.

     

Support Local News

We show up at hurricanes, budget meetings, high school games, accidents, fires and community events. We show up at celebrations and tragedies and everything in between. We show up so our readers can learn about pivotal events that affect their communities and their lives.

How important is local news to you? You can support independent, unbiased journalism and help iBerkshires grow for as a little as the cost of a cup of coffee a week.

News Headlines
Clark Art Screens 'Adaptation'
Drury High School to Host End-of-Year Showcase
Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified
Pittsfield CPA Committee Funds Half of FY24 Requests
MCLA Men's Lacrosse Falls in League Opener
Letter: Vote for Someone Other Than Trump
Berkshire Art Center's Dance Party Returns
Dalton Committee Seeks Funding for Invasive Species
Dog Daycare Planned for Former Williamstown Restaurant Site
Simon's Rock Awarded Freedom to Read Grant

Stephanie Farrington of Berkshire Food is contributing to our Eats blog — all about food, all the time. 

 


Farmfare
Seasonal Farmers Markets

Berkshire South Community Market
15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington
Saturdays through Oct. 27 from 11 to 3

Berkshire Mall Market
Sears parking lot, Route 8
Wednesdays & Saturdays through November from 8 to 2

North Adams Farmers Market
St. Anthony's Municipal Parking
Saturdays through Oct. 27 from 8 to noon

Great Barrington Farmers Market
Taconic Avenue & Castle Street
Saturdays through October from 9 to 1

Lenox Farmers Market
70 Kemble St., Shakespeare & Company
Fridays through Oct. 5 from 1 to 5

Oits Farmers Market
L & M Auto, 2000 East Otis Road (Rte. 23)
Saturdays through Oct. 6 from 9 to 1

Pittsfield Farmers Market
First and Fenn streets, across from the Common
Saturdays, May 11 through Oct. 26, from 9 to 1

Sheffield Farmers Market
Old Parish Church, Main Street
Fridays through September from 3 to 7

Williamstown Farmers Market
Spring Street parking lot
Saturdays, May 25 through October, from 9 to 1

Hoosick Falls, N.Y.
The Armory
Wednesdays, 4 to 7

 



Categories:
Agriculture (8)
Asian (5)
Bakery (3)
Beverages (2)
Brewery (1)
Changes (12)
Closing (5)
Coffeehouse (2)
Deli (5)
Diner (3)
Education (4)
Farm (18)
Fine Dining (8)
Fun Stuff (43)
Italian (7)
Locavore (21)
Mexican (6)
Moving (5)
New Business (17)
Opening (19)
People (13)
Pizza (5)
Pub (0)
Vegan (3)
Archives:
Tags:
Barbecue Farming Competition Breakfast Books Hancock Shaker Village Festival Hops And Vines Farmers Market North Adams Wing Fling Food Mezze Great Barrington Fundraiser Eagle Street Williamstown Mediterranean Restaurant Cafe Food Festival Csa Alberg Local Food Berkshire Grown Wild Oats Chocolate Winterfest Beverages Soup Sushi Award Pittsfield Gluten-free Farm
Popular Entries:
Berkshire Distiller Doubling Production
Desperados Reopening In North Adams
Fiori Makes Bloody Good-Looking Marys
Street Food, Northern Berkshire Style
What's for Lunch?: Chicken & Flatbread at The Hub
Williamstown To See Restaurant Ownership Changes
Mazzeo's Preparing to Move South
Petrino's Open and Humming
Food Fest Slated in North Adams
Mezze Mention Brings Farm-to-Table Food to Bigger Market
Recent Entries:
Lenox Chef Nominated for National Award
Wild Oats Chef to Attend National Healthy Food Conference
MediTerra In North Adams Closed for Winter
Storey Publishing Celebrates 'Soup Night'
Berkshire Food Festival Serves Up Local Fare on Sunday
North Adams Restaurant to Reopen With Med Menu
Barrington Brewery: Come for the Beer, Stay for the Cake
The Hub Restaurant Celebrates 5 Years on Friday
Nudel Chef-Owner Nominated for Top 100 Chef
Berkshire Grown Hosting March Maple Dinner