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Marblehead, Massachusetts is an affluent historic seacoast community founded in 1629
and located 13 miles Northwest of Boston. At one time it was the seventh largest city
in the United States. But it took until 1997 — almost 370 years — to
establish a viable Farmers' Market.
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Today the Marblehead Farmers' Market is a thriving marketplace of 24 producers and craft vendors that has become the sixth largest revenue producing Farmers' Market in Massachusetts — a state where the Commissioner of Agricultural Resources, Doug Petersen , says "We have well over 160 farmers' markets, and they're growing at a rate of 20 or 30 a year."
What is driving such growth? This market has professionals at the helm and in the booths. Don Morgan , the market manager says, "Our attendance used to be 400 or 500, and now it's up to around 1300 or 1400 because (customers) are buying produce that's fresh, tastes good and is local from people they know. The farmers have to grow things to sell them at this market."
Glenn Cook , vendor and co-owner of Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury, carefully assesses customer needs and tracks how they have changed over the years. "Twenty years ago customers wanted to buy cheap produce. They thought the farm was the place where they'd get the best price. Ten years ago they wanted to come because (husband and wife) were both working, and they wanted to bring the kids and have an experience. Now it has everything to do with buying local, bio-security, looking into the eyes of the person who grows their food and having the connection — that relationship".
Bill Clark , vendor and owner of Clark Farm in Danvers, grows his produce on land that has been continuously farmed by his family since 1728. "The best quality that I grow goes right to Marblehead. They get the stuff that's picked the latest. The produce (I bring) is as fresh as they're going to get it."
And Lesli Turock , vendor, pastry chef and owner of Lesli's Kitchen says, "It's a good clientele. You get to know the people from the time they were married to pregnancy through having their kids. And I feel it's like a community." She sells pies filled with "strawberry, rhubarb, nectarine, plum, peach, blueberry, whatever is seasonal. All the fruit is fresh. The crust is handmade and hand rolled. It's the best pie you'll ever buy from anybody!" And the customers know it.
Now it has everything to do with buying local, bio-security, looking into the eyes of the person who grows their food and having the connection — that relationship
Rose McCarthy , Marblehead native says "I get strawberries that are really out of this world. And the corn's very good. They have a lot of nice people that are bringing their produce, and it's really good. It's down to earth, literally!"
Marguerite Frank from neighboring Salem tells us, "I come here because of the fresh produce and because I know it's locally grown. It supports our local economy. It's social and it's fun."
For Erling Falk, shopping at the Marblehead Farmers' Market "is a passion with us. Every Saturday morning rain or shine we're here. Cup of coffee and couple of fruit tarts, and we're in business!"
Karen Cook , Glenn's counterpart at Cider Hill Farms knows the real reason for coming to the market. "I come for the hugs and kisses and the love. I love these people. We build relationships. I want to spoil them rotten because they spoil us rotten."
I come here because of the fresh produce and because I know it's locally grown. It supports our local economy. It's social and it's fun.
Bill Clark opines, "With the mix we have at Marblehead, it's just phenomenal. The people leave satisfied. They come back. They're very loyal. They line up to buy before we open at 9 o'clock, and some of us have 20 or 30 people waiting in line to get the stuff. I know one guy who brings 400 dozen eggs, and it's gone before 11 o'clock. Last week we did 25 baskets of tomatoes. That's a lot of tomatoes to sell in three hours. It's a lot of anything. If you have a good product, it looks nice and you stack 'em high and watch 'em fly — it's a great way to direct market to the customers."
Several unique features set Marblehead apart from other exemplary farmers' markets:
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40 different craft vendors rotate monthly displaying their jewelry, soaps and lotions at 3 to 5 designated craft booths "so there's a lot of variety and something new all the time," says market manager Morgan.
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24 volunteers set up and take down the tents and tables every week, freeing up the vendors to concentrate on displaying their produce and making contact with customers. The food displays are beautiful — almost works of art.
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A common appreciation for community among vendors and customers. Customers
"come here and see people they haven't seen for a while," explains Morgan. "So they
get a cup of coffee or a doughnut or muffin and chat for a while and then go about
doing their shopping. So it's a fun day as well as a healthy nutritional good-tasting
experience."
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The Marblehead Farmers' Market is close to Boston on the coastline of Massachusetts. Located behind the Marblehead Middle School, it is open from 9 to noon each Saturday, rain or shine, June through October. But as customer Jodi Greenleaf warned us "You have to get here by quarter to nine before it starts or else you don't get any."
And it would be a shame for you to miss Glenn and Karen's fresh eggs, Bill Clarke's fresh basil and tomatoes, Leslie's amazing fresh fruit pies, and the opportunity to feel the love from the community known as Marblehead.
Come and get it!
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