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Market opens this weekend

By Staff | Mar 30, 2012

With spring’s arrival, the Shepherdstown Farmer’s Market returns for a new season of local goods and produce.

After the inclusion of a handful of new vendors, this year’s Farmer’s Market will offer some familiar favorites and a few new additions.

According to Bill Grantham, president of the Farmer’s Market organization, this weekend’s market-goers can expect to find their local spring greens, like kale and spinach and fresh salad supplies.

“There will be a lot of salad mix,” he said.

Grantham, who has been a vendor at the market for 21 years, said that this season his business, Tudor Hall Farm, will also offer some of its yearly selection of grass-fed beef, free roaming pork and free range eggs.

Grantham said that other than his own offerings, he is most excited about some of the new products customers will find at the market this season.

“We’re always hunting something,” he said.

Obergood Cheese will now sell goat cheese at the market. And an artisan baker and cheese maker will also be added this year. According to market organizer Megan Webber, some popular goods from the past are set to return to the market this year.

According to Webber, longtime vendor, Cacina Rivas will return and offer their popular tortilla chips, salsa, tomatoes and guacamole.

Another favorite, Piece of Cake, will also return,

“That’s a big thing for us to have her back. She was really missed last season,” she said.

Grantham said he was excited by for the return of one popular item in particular: asparagus.

“That’s one of our very, very high selling spring crops,” he said.

Along with fresh foods and plants, the market this year will continue its mission to be a community-centered event.

As usual, each Sunday’s market will host various musical performances from local musicians.

Webber said that the market organizers, who begin planning for each season in January and February, decide what vendors, musicians and special contests and activities they’ll have each season. The market vendors act as committee with each vendor getting one vote on big decisions.

“Every vendor kind of has a role,” she said.

This year, Webber said the organizers hope to hold more special contests like last year’s tomato and pumpkin contests.

Webber also said that it is the market’s goal to engage and contribute to the Shepherdstown community as a whole each season.

The market has donated to Shepherdstown Elementary garden themed program, “Roots and Shoots” and the children’s department of the Shepherdstown Library, for example.

“We try to give back to the community,” she said.

Both Grantham and Webber hope the community will come out in a big way for the season kickoff on Sunday.

“Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the market,” Grantham said.

The farmer’s market will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning Sunday, April 1. Next week’s market will be held Saturday, April 7 due to the Easter holiday. Community members are encouraged to remember that the market will be held every Sunday through December. Organizers ask the public to refrain from parking on King Street behind the library where the market is held on Sunday during market season. Cars will be towed. For more information about the Farmer’s Market, like their page on Facebook: Shepherdstown Farmers Market.