Chicopee Farmers’ Market makes impact on community

Date: 8/23/2011

Aug. 24, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE — With the Western Massachusetts Senior Band performing in the background and people lining up for a free ear of corn on the cob, the Chicopee Farmers’ Market was quite on busy on Aug. 17 and Market Manager James Skora said this year was one of the best markets ever.

Skora attributed the success of the market to a “consistent crowd.”

“We’re starting to make some impact in the community,” he added.

For the last several years, the market has been presented in Willamansett under the Interstate 391 overpass, giving it a roof that has protected vendors and shoppers from rain and direct sun.

Skora said the market attracts many people taking advantage of a coupon program through Women, Infants and Children (WIC) that is made available to eligible WIC participants and seniors.

The same number of vendors has participated as last year, he added, but has brought a greater array of produce. The ancillary vendors who sell “everything from jams to jewelry keeps things interesting,” he added.

The market was featuring a corn promotion last week, something it hasn’t done in years and Skora hoped the attention would help bring people to the market for its last three appearances every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through Sept. 6.

Although other farmers’ markets stay open later in the year, Skora said the number of people who come to the market falls off in September.

The market, he said, is one of the nutrition campaigns of the Valley Opportunity Council.

Nancy Zucker of Roots, Fruits and Greens of Wendell, said this has been a good growing season with the only problem being a few tomatoes splitting because of too much water.

Holding up a bunch of fresh garlic with pride, she noted the weather has been good this summer for crops.

She brings her organic produce to a wide number of markets and said she disagreed with the premise that the number of farmers’ markets has exceeded the demand for locally grown fruits and vegetables.

She said the biggest challenge most farmers face is whether or not a market has good weather that day.

She added the markets with a heavy number of WIC participants and seniors using coupons does pose an issue over payment. It can take farmers six to eight weeks to receive cash for the coupons used at their booth.

“It’s not making farmers happy,” Zucker said.