WESTFIELD – In less than five months, the lawn of the Episcopal Church of the Atonement will once again be filled with vendors on Thursdays selling a variety of locally produced foods and crafts.
On Jan. 7, the market committee of the Westfield Farmers Market will host a meeting at 4 p.m. at the church on Court Street to discuss this year’s plans and the types of volunteer opportunities that are available for area residents. This is the second year that the church has managed the market as a community outreach project.
The farmers market will officially open on June 2 and run through Oct. 6 on Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m., according to Deb Randzio, market manager.
Each year, the market continues to grow and patrons can expect to find locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, potted plants and flowers, home baked breads and goods, local honey, maple syrup, relishes, goat meat and goat milk products, eggs, doughnuts cooked on-site, kettle corn, wine, wood crafts, blueberries, cheese, 100 percent grass fed and organic certified beef, and much more.
“The farmers market is an important outreach project since it provides activity for the downtown and builds a successful busy market for local agricultural vendors,” said Randzio. “We also provide a service for those who need food assistance by offering low-cost, healthy, nutritious food with a matching CISA (Community Involved in Sustainable Agriculture) grant that puts good food on one’s table.”
Randzio said that the market committee is looking for volunteers or as she calls “worker bees” to assist customers and vendors during the season, setting up and taking down sites, posting signage, as well as various other tasks.
“Our vendors love the location and the volunteers who help them,” said Randzio.
Randzio said that teams of volunteers are needed from 10:30 a.m. to noon for the market set up and then from 6 to 7 p.m. for the take down process.
“If we have several volunteers we can rotate schedules,” she said.
Volunteer opportunities can also include assisting the marketing committee on publicity, working at the SNAP booth, and setting up chairs and tables for those who wish to enjoy some food purchased at the market.
“Depending on the volunteer role, training is done since some roles can be more paper driven,” she said.
For persons unable to attend the meeting but would like to volunteer their time, e-mail Randzio at [email protected].
As the committee gears up for the upcoming growing season, Randzio is confident that area residents will volunteer their time to help ensure another successful market season.
“Our vendors are our biggest supporters,” said Randzio. “We want to help them which in turn helps us to grow our market.”
