WESTFIELD-Sunny skies and a warm breeze welcomed patrons to the first Westfield Farmers’ Market of the season on Thursday, along with music by performers including Greg Hart and Duane Woody of Hart/Woody on the lawn of the Episcopal Church of the Atonement.
Gabriella Steria of Stony Creek Farm says her Morning Glory Bread is a big seller at the Westfield Farmers’ Market.
In its second year under the management of church officials, vendors returning for another fruitful season include Moe’s Donuts, Pignatare’s Farm, Mount Warner Vineyards, Calcraft Relishes, Rudy’s Greenhouse, Stony Creek Farm, Ellie’s Oils, Relax. Rinse. Repeat., Trotwood Acres, Windycrest Farm, and Mike’s Crafts.
New vendors to the market include Boomsma Family Farm, specializing in forested pork with no antibiotics or hormones, Mayval Farm, offering milk, cheeses, and maple syrup, and the Skyline Trading Company, selling specialty breads including white baguettes, focaccia, sour dough ciabatta, sourdough rolls and their “famous pretzels.”
New at the market is an increased grant administered by CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), allowing SNAP customers who scan their cards at the market to receive up to a $10 match per week on their SNAP purchases.
Greg Hart and Duane Woody of Hart/Woody provide a background of blues and jazz music for the enjoyment of patrons to the Westfield Farmers’ Market.
Vendors were eager to greet patrons and also provide samples of their specialty products. One of the popular tents was at Mayval Farm, offering samples of Skyr (pronounced “skeer”), a thick and creamy Icelandic cultured dairy product that is technically a cheese but tastes similar to strained yogurt, according to Margaret Parsons who helps run the farm with her family. Other samples included cheddar cheese curds, described by Parsons as “tasty little bits of fresh cheddar cheese perfect for a quick snack, plain or flavored with buffalo wing seasoning, garlic, or chive blend.”
“The Strawberry Skyr was delicious,” said Karissa Foley of Westfield who had stopped by the tent.
Moe’s Donuts is also a popular stop for patrons, including Carole Verardo of Granville. She was purchasing churros for her daughter, Jenny Doser of Westfield, owner of Relax. Rinse. Repeat. Doser is also a market vendor.
“I like being outdoors, purchasing homemade products, and supporting local businesses,” said Verardo.
Ray Lariviere of Calcraft Relishes was once again selling his popular zucchini relishes and bread and butter pickles, noting sales were
Daniel Osella of Skyline Trading Company, soon to open its doors on Elm Street, chats with Robert and Judy Brown.
especially busy at the start of the market.
Gabriella Steria of Stony Creek Farm was selling her popular breads including the Morning Glory – made with shredded apples and carrots, flour, sugar, oil, wheat bran, eggs, coconut, walnuts, raisins, baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. She also sells fresh goat cheese, jams and jellies and pickled vegetables.
Pignatare’s Farm had a long table filled with vegetables ranging from tomatoes at $1 each, and cucumbers for 75 cents each to a bunch of asparagus for $3.50 and farm-fresh eggs for $5. Additionally, there were mini breads (banana, zucchini, blueberry and apple) for $2 each, and several jars of honey, jams and relishes to purchase.
Trotwood Acres had tables filled with flats of vegetable plants and herbs, as well as fresh salad greens on ice in a cooler, and Rudy’s Greenhouse had several tables offering a variety of plants for sale.
Barbara Goldstein of Ellie’s Oils had a decorative table with specialty olive oil and vinegar products, ranging from a cranberry pear white balsamic vinegar to a Tuscan herb. Patrons were welcome to try a sample of her offerings in sample Dixie cups.
“The fig balsamic is especially wonderful,” said Goldstein.
Karissa Foley of Westfield samples Strawberry Skyr at the Mayval Farm tent at the Westfield Farmers’ Market.
Daniel Osella of the soon-to-be opened Skyline Trading Company on Elm Street had several breads for sale including focaccia, sour dough ciabatta, and spent grain baguettes.
“Our food is prepared fresh from scratch and we use locally sourced and produced ingredients whenever possible,” said Osella, noting his “famous pretzels served with honey mustard” were already sold out by 2 p.m. “The half-pound pretzels are always a big seller for us.”
Also, Mike Koivisto of Mike’s Crafts was selling walking staffs, Native American flutes, custom clocks, cribbage boards, turkey calls and whistles, while Mount Warner Vineyards were once again offering samplings of their white and red wines as well as a “Positively Peach” dessert wine.
Sally Wheeler, owner of Windycrest Farm in Granville, noted sales were “fair” as of early afternoon with her handcrafted goat milk soaps and hand and body beeswax products.
Other new features at the market include musical performances by local musicians and groups, sponsored by a grant from the Westfield Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. From 2 to 4 p.m., Greg Hart and Duane Woody of Hart/Woody played a “hodge podge of blues and jazz,” according to Woody during a break.
Local restaurants also plan to offer cooking demonstrations each week and on Thursday afternoon, Laurie Varelas, owner of The Good Table, showed patrons how effortless it is to make a ham and asparagus garlic cheese omelet. By the time she was ready to serve bite-size pieces, a line had formed to taste her creation.
“I added the garlic cheese curd from Mayval Farm to the scrambled eggs for extra flavor,” said Varelas.
Nonprofit organizations will also have tents to distribute information throughout the season, and Stanley Park was the first to share its summer Sunday Night Concerts lineup, as well as Friday morning programming for children.
The Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association was also on hand distributing literature, and will be conducting soil testing throughout the month, free of charge, with donations accepted.
A voter registration table will also be on-site each week for those wishing to register to vote. Helen Mahler noted she had registered one voter and arranged for six absentee ballots to be mailed by 2 p.m.
A new loyalty rewards program is also available for customers who attend the market six times and have their loyalty card signed at the market host’s tent each time. Once the card is signed six times, the individual will be entered into a weekly drawing for rewards including market gift certificates.
The Westfield Farmers’ Market is offered on Thursday afternoons on the front lawn of the church. Ample parking is available in the back of the church.
