Sandwich Farmer's Market, Cape Cod

**PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW HOURS FOR WINTER 2011/2012**: 10:00AM-2:00PM
Open every other Sunday, November 6th thru March 18th, 2012,
Come every other Sunday all winter long to browse and buy locally grown and/or produced goods such as: local produce, vegetables, fruits, honey, eggs, breads, cheeses, oils, vinegars, pastries, live lobsters, potted plants, cut flowers, herbs, soaps/ lotions, gifts, souveniers and so much more! Good for the community...good for you!

WINTER MARKET DATES:

NEW LOCATION:

WIC/Senior Coupons accepted

Farmers Market Up And Running

SANDWICH -

The sun shone brightly on Tuesday afternoon for the opening of the town's inaugural farmers market.
At 2:30 PM, before the celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony even took place, the parking area was filling up quickly, as more cars poured into the empty field next to the Oakcrest Cove property on Quaker Meetinghouse Road. With the sounds of the Sandwich High School Jazz Band filling the air, the event proved to be the family-focused event that organizer Rebecca S. Soares of Sandwich had envisioned when she began planning this venture.
Chairman of the board of selectmen Linell M. Grundman had the honor of cutting the ribbon to open the market. She offered up praise to Ms. Soares, saying, "I thank her for organizing this. It was brilliant for you to think of this." Selectman Frank Pannorfi could not help but make a bit of a pun when he said, "May it be fruitful and successful."
More than a dozen vendors set up their wares under tents. While the market's intent was to give residents an opportunity to purchase locally grown fruits and vegetables, freshly picked the same day, the market also served as a venue for small business owners to build their client base and even begin a new business.
Sandwich resident Lisa K. Davis who owns a home-based bread-making business, leased a table at the market. Ms. Davis explained that she typically reaches her customers through word of mouth, but this market was an opportunity to reach even more people.
For Gretchen Phillips of Sagamore Beach, this market represented an opportunity to start a business, using her culinary talents in the area of pie and bread baking. With her 3-year-old son Reese at her side helping to set up the table, and 4-month-old son Cameron in her arms, Ms. Phillips said when she learned that this market was opening, she decided that her family should not be the only recipients of her baking expertise and this could prove an ideal opportunity for her to make a little extra money, while raising her two children.
Other vendors sold freshly caught lobsters, homemade jams, and jarred pickles, and, of course, vegetables, fruits, and fresh herbs.
People meandered about looking at the variety of items, with some vendors offering a sample before customers committed to purchasing. Some people left with fresh fruits, such as strawberries, while others took advantage of the opportunity to purchase potted plants.
The town's health inspector David B. Mason visited the site as well. Mr. Mason said he was there to ensure that all of the vendors had the proper vendor permit. He said anybody who is considering leasing a table should be sure to secure that license first, which is available by visiting the town offices on Jan Sebastian Drive.
Ms. Soares said she was pleased with the number of vendors who took part in the market's opening day and is expecting even more vendors to come on board, as the season progresses and a larger variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables become available. She is planning to keep the market open through October, when some of her favorite fall vegetables, such as squashes and pumpkins, will be ripe and ready for the picking and selling.
As with any new venture, Ms. Soares had much to contend with right up until the last minutes before opening. Early in the planning stages, she was hoping to hold the market at the Town Green, just across from the state fish hatchery. But the state would not give her permission to do so, citing a concern about an increase in traffic and lack of parking spaces.
That's when the town stepped in and gave her permission to use the open field next to the Oakcrest Cove property for the market. She had planned to use the lot at the Pop Warner field for parking. However, the town was concerned about the number of people crossing such a heavily traveled road. She then approached Pop Warner to ask if she could use that site for the market. But then the town told her it would be permissible for cars to park on the right side of the vacant field and for vendors to set up on the left side. With all of the details ironed out, Ms. Soares opened the market on the lot next to the Oakcrest Cove property. She hired a policeman to direct traffic and, with such a successful start for this business, she plans to hire the police detail every week throughout the season.
The farmers market will be open on Tuesday afternoons, from 2:30 to 6:30, through October 28.

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