It was a terrible winter. Ice, ice, and more ice. But we know it’s finally over because the Great Barrington Farmers Market opens this Saturday. May 9 at 9 a.m. This venerable market, begun 25 years ago, will feature 28 vendors at their new venue, just off Main Street on Church Street. Howard Lefenfeld, the market manager, reports that the new space is larger than previous markets, and has much more street parking than before.
The Great Barrington Farmers Market took over the train station on Saturday mornings for years, but moved to the fairgrounds last year. This year they have an arrangement with Great Barrington’s fairy godmother, Jane Iredale, who is generously leasing them space on her company’s conveniently located property, with a lot of room for parking.
Iredale is a sustaining partner of the farmers’ market. The market is a cooperative, owned by all the vendors.
Shoppers will recognize most of the vendors from previous markets. Newcomers include Laura Meister, a vegetable grower at Farm Girl Farm in Sheffield, and Strudelz, who took over Rolling Rock Farm from the Zehrs, who left the area.
The Farmers Market is open six months of the year, May through October. Given the vagaries of the growing season, it’s not surprising that the busiest months at the market are July and August.
Farmers Market vendors come from a 50-mile radius of Great Barrington. They come from as far north as Cricket Creek in Williamstown, and as far west and south as Maynard Farms in Ulster Park, N.Y.
Attendance at the market ranges from 1,000-1,500, with the average at 1,200. Shoppers come from all over the tri-state area, with a heavy presence of weekenders. Shoppers come from a much wider area than vendors, with regular visitors from New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and many from Boston.
In the early weeks, the dominant product is bedding plants. Popular fruits, vegetables, and flowers show up a bit later.
The market is an important part of the livelihood of all of the vendors. But even more important than the financial aspect, the market allows vendors a personal link with their customers. They tell shoppers how their food is grown, what to do with it, and listen to comments and suggestions from customers. “People love to schmooze and talk with vendors,” reports Lefenfeld. He hasn’t gotten over his amazement at how much the patrons enjoy their easy interaction with the farmers.
The Great Barrington Farmers Market is governed by a 5-member steering committee that includes the farmers from Justamere Tree Farm selling maple syrup, Berkshire Wildflower Honey from Mill River Farm, vegetables from Indian Line Farm and Markristo Farm, and honey from Hosta Hill Farm. The board sets all the market policies and then hires the market manager to administer them.
Howard Lefenfeld, a retired businessman in Great Barrington, took over as market manager last year, and is eagerly awaiting this year’s opening. Lefenfeld refers to himself as “the doer of odd jobs.” He processes market applications, oversees the insurance certificate, makes sure that all the vendors are qualified under Great Barrington Health Department rules, organizes the market on a weekly basis, helps vendors find their spots, and helps them set up when needed.
This year, he’ll be helping to administer SNAP, a federally funded program from the Department of Agriculture. This program is designed to enable low-income people to buy fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables. Lefenfeld will be working with Mary Feuer of the Community Health Program. There are 500-600 people in the Great Barrington area who are eligible for SNAP. Berkshire Grown, the local food advocacy organization, is a partner in this program.
A popular component of this market is being able to shop with your dog. There are those who don’t appreciate dogs sniffing around them, but many customers think that bringing their dog with them adds to the already enjoyable experience. Lefenfeld reports that dog owners are careful to keep their dogs under control.
The easiest way to describe the Great Barrington Farmers Market is to say that everyone loves it. Customers appreciate talking to the people whose food they buy, enjoy seeing friends and neighbors, and are happy to contribute to the local economy.
This being the 21st century, there is an email list for patrons. Just click onto “greatbarringtonfarmersmarket.org” and sign up so you can keep up-to-date on what’s happening at the market.
The poster for the Farmers Market will be put in store windows all over town, inviting people to market and encouraging them to stay in town after market to shop and eat. Positive thing for town during construction.
