Farmer's Market coming soon

By Jonathan Cook
Turley Publications Reporter

STURBRIDGE - Small farms are one of the few booming businesses these days. They surround Sturbridge on all sides and soon residents won’t have to go looking for them. As of Aug. 1, that farm fresh taste is coming to town - setting up shop outside the Millyard Market Place.
Stopping by between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. that Sunday, shoppers will find local abundance and variety thanks to the hard work of those small farmers and the organization skills of Melinda Kirkpatrick.
As a result, there will be honey, vegetables, meat, fresh baked bread, a few crafters and even all natural dog snacks. While space is limited, Kirkpatrick would welcome a few more produce farmers.
After all, there is a reason small local farms are growing – demand. When word gets out, Kirkpatrick is expecting her vendors to do a brisk business since it will be the only weekly Farmers Market in town.
Kirkpatrick, a Brimfield resident and co-founder of OurTVSpace.com with offices in the Millyard, said, “We feel that there is demand for (a farmers market). We want people to have an outdoor market.” She added, “and we want to help farmers out.” Fresh food is something she is accustomed to and does not want to do without. She explained, “when we lived in California we did most of our shopping at the (farmers) market.”
Some of the vendors expected include Overlook Farm of Brookfield, Roots Bakery of Sturbridge, Bee Haven Apiaries of Tolland, Conn., and Wild Mountain Beefalo of West Brookfield among many others.
In the craft category will be a Henna artist, a bead merchant and possibly a potter. More farmers are expected to join in August when the harvest is going full tilt.
Nevertheless, there are plenty of crops ready to go, including tomatoes. “In any event, we will have some nice quality vendors there in July,” Kirkpatrick said.
Also among the vendors, Kirkpatrick will set up a table offering information on the STAR (Sturbridge Area) Co-op for those food products that can’t be provided by local farmers. Kirkpatrick said she will have “information on joining our club and also some of the products that are available through it.” Markets will take place on the last Sunday of each month between now and November. This is the market and the co-op’s second year.
For more information or to sign up as a vendor, Kirkpatrick can be reached at info@ourtvspace.com or 774-241-0430.