We’re famous! At least, two of our vendors are: Tower Root Beer was recently recognized on The Today Show website in recognition of National Root Beer Day, and Stir It Up Cuisine’s Pat Kiernan and her hot pepper jellies and cheese tortes will be appearing on Lifetime's Supermarket Superstar on Thursday, August 22 at 10:30 p.m. Both venders will be with us this week.
And, speaking of famous, help us celebrate National Farmers Market Week by getting our market on the map! Simply go towww.lovemyfarmersmarket.org and pledge to spend $10 at your favorite farmers market. You can pledge once a day up until September 9. As of Friday at noon, we were #42 in the top 100 in the country and #2 in Massachusetts with $450 pledged compared to Attleboro at #15 and 1st in MA with $1170. COME ON! Take the Pledge! :) To learn more about National Farmers Market Week and how farmers markets contribute to our local economy, see the link about it at wakefieldfarmersmarket.com.
Holly Pierce will be presenting another tasty and informative Cooking Demonstration in the center tent from 10-noon or so. This is a great opportunity to learn new cooking techniques and taste combinations featuring the wonderful produce that is in season right now. As always, you get to try a bite.
PLEASE NOTE: I have not heard otherwise from John Crow Farm, so I am hoping they will be back this week. If I hear for certain one way or another, I will send a special announcement out to this list and post to Facebook and Twitter.
Once again, you are in for a treat if you like banjo music. Banjo extraordinaires Ed Britt and Don Borchelt of Harvard/Brattle Square fame will be back again and will entertain us throughout the market day. Be sure to stop by for a listen. Note of interest: Ed Britt is also well-known as the super sound man for Wakefield’s Linden Tree Coffeehouse.
For kids of all ages, Yarrow will be twisting balloons, and Amy will be face painting, filling in for Gina this week. Word has it that Amy might have glitter and henna tattoos, too. As always, there will be hula hoops and plenty of chalk on hand.
NEWSFLASH: Tower Root Beer has a new product:Cream Soda! Be sure to stop by for a sample!
Our nonprofit guest today is TOPS, which stands for Taking Off Pounds Sensibly. TOPS promotes successful, affordable weight management with a philosophy that combines healthy eating, regular exercise, wellness information, awards and recognition, support from others at weekly chapter meetings, locally in Wakefield, Reading, and Malden.
Find out what's happening in Wakefieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
NEWSFLASH: Swiss Bakers says - Try our Choco Weggli!!! The all natural butter roll with just the right amount of chocolate to get your taste buds tingling!!
HEY!!! GO PLEDGE!!!! COME ON!!! You can do it daily! Remember how you all voted our market #1 in our category in Massachusetts last year? This year instead of voting for your favorite market - participants are pledging to spend dollars at our favorite farmers market! SO, let's get started, shall we? :) You can pledge to spend money at more than one market each DAY, but let's see if we can keep our Wakefield Farmers Market (MA) on the charts! Simply go to www.lovemyfarmersmarket.org to select our market and make your pledge!
Find out what's happening in Wakefieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
And now, more vendor news!
Corn is in the height of its season and three of our farmers have it – try some from each! The entire weekly list from Farmer Dave can be accessed at the end of the 2013 Season Vendor page on our website or by clicking HERE, but here is a modest excerpt: three kinds of kale, a variety of summer squashes, corn, cukes, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and other greens, stone fruits, berries and melons. The peaches and cantaloupe are exquisite!Charlton Orchards will have stone fruits and berries along with corn and assorted produce, honey, wine, and pasture-raised beef and eggs. I heard more than one person wowing about their tomatoes last week, and I recommend trying their little plums that look like cherry tomatoes – very tasty, and quite a surprise if you, as I did, try one expecting a cherry tomato.
There will be corn, and all sorts of wonderful produce from Kelly’s farm, as well, along their totally gorgeous cut flowers, and Flats will have their equally gorgeous Asian greens, veggies, and herbs, and quite possibly those delicately delicious squash blossoms.
Copicut Farms will, as always, have their freshly slaughtered pasture-raised chickens and eggs, and I am pretty sure John Crow Farm, who had to cancel last week, will be back with their great variety of pasture-raised cuts and types of meats and poultry, as well as fresh eggs. Check the website for any updates.
SALE! Along with their always spectacular array of fresh seafood, Globe Fish, aka The Fish Lady, will have Wild King Salmon for $18 per pound this week.
For delicious snacks and meals that taste like you spent hours in the kitchen, stop by Samira’s Homemade for some wonderful Middle Eastern foods and Fior D’Italia, for some gourmet pastas and entrees, as well as fresh mozzarella products. And, to make anything taste better, be sure to stock up on some lemony DD’s Dressing. Not only does it taste great, the proceeds fund scholarships for local young people. Stop by the DDs tent to learn the story.
As always, Mamadou’s will have their amazing artisan breads, Swiss Bakers their delectable assortment of breads and pastries, and the Popover Lady will have popovers ( I am hoping for sundried tomato), pies, and scones.
For sweets, Ben’s Sugar Shack has scrumptious maple treats and more, and cookies just don’t get any better than the ones from Goodies Homemade.
This week’s Artisans: Wakefield herbalist Sarah Trow and Trow’s Treasures, Maria McQuaid and her Wicked Good Soap, and Angelika Paul of Angelika Tiles, the latter accompanied by her delightful "sales help."
And again: Carrots! New this year, our market is taking part in the Plant A Carrot Campaign, a program designed to help farmers markets raise funds as well as raise awareness of farmers and farmers markets all across the country. “Carrots” will be available for sale ($5 each) all season at the market. To learn more and to get your very own Carrot, be sure to stop by the Market Manager tent!
Coming Up:
Betty's Bounce on 8/17, Kevin G. Moore back on 8/24, 9/7, and 10/5, Melrose Bootcamp 9/7, Ed Britt and Don Borchelt (banjos) back on 9/4 and 10/19, Chris LaVancher on 9/21 and 10/12, and the Audubon Ark on 9/28. Also, Friends of Beebe Library book sale/giveaway on 9/7 and the Plein Air Paint Out on 9/14. And, PAWS will be bringing some kittens to visit on a date in October...Something for everyone!
The Wakefield Farmers Market runs RAIN OR SHINE (except in dangerous weather, e.g. lightening or hurricane conditions). The market opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 1:00 p.m. every Saturday through October 19, 2013. Please visit www.wakefieldfarmersmarket.com for a complete listing of vendors and upcoming events and to sign up for the email newsletter. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter. See you at the Market!
Wendy Dennis
Market Manager
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https://twitter.com/wakefieldfarmmk
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Links to All our Vendors:
Farm, Food, and Pet Products
Bark for More
Ben's Sugar Shack
Charlton Orchards
Copicut Farms
Coutts Specialty Foods
DD’s Dressing
Farmer Dave's
Fior D'Italia
Flats Mentor Farm
Globe Fish
Goodies Homemade
In Good Taste
John Crow Farm
Kelly's Farm
Mamadou's Bread
Nobscot Artisan Cheese
7Ate9 Bakery
Samira Homemade
Stir It Up Cuisine
Swiss Bakers
The Popover Lady
Artisan Crafts Products
All About Corks
Angelika Paul Tiles
Barefoot Books
Ellen Garvey Glass
Kaleidoscope Soap
Kittredge Candles
On the Edge Knife Sharpening
Wicked Good Soap
Trow's Treasures
