Downtown Farmers' Market still seeking vendors for the upcoming season

Date: 4/19/2011

April 20, 2011

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Editor

WESTFIELD — There's still room left for local product and produce purveyors who would like to join Westfield's Farmers' Market this summer .

According to Lisa McMahon, director of the Westfield Business Improvement District (WBID), the popular market will return to the parking lot of Goodwill Industries at 47 Franklin St. every Thursday from June 16 through Sept. 29.

The WBID relocated the market to the Goodwill site last season to accommodate construction at Park Square Green.

WBID Administrative Assistant Patti Conroy said several of last year's popular sellers, including the pie makers from Stone Creek Farms in Russell, the growers from Blue Gates Farms, the condiment makers from Cal's Famous Zucchini Relish and the bakers from Berkshire Mountain Bakery, are all on the list to return this season.

"People come every week for their bread," Conroy said of Berkshire Mountain Bakery. "They're one of our big draws."

As in the past, the WBID's goal in hosting the weekly market is to support local, family-owned farms and food producers, and plans to continue to provide marketing and administrative support to the vendors throughout the season. Vendors are requested to carry their own insurance.

Farmers and food producers interested in participating in this year's Westfield Farmers' market are asked to contact Conroy at 572-1260 or e-mail her at patti@thedistrictwestfield.com for an application.