Farmers' Market Readies to Open Next Month

In just a few weeks, Westborough will host a lively Farmers' Market each week on the front lawn of the at the intersection of Route 30 and Church Street.

David McMahon, Farmers’ Market organizer and Co-Executive Director of Dismas House of Massachusetts, told Westborough Patch that the market will open on either June 23 or 30, pending a special permit process from the Zoning Board of Appeals. From then on, he said, it will run weekly on Thursdays from 1 to 6 p.m. through end of September.

The Farmers’ Market organizers sponsored a logo contest for children in Westborough this past March, and they just released the names of the first and second place winners as well as a handful of honorable mentions. McMahon said that “a committee of staff, board members and volunteers reviewed over two dozen entrees. Selection was based on the clarity of the pictures for purposes of advertising the market, as well as the skill of the artist, the creativity displayed, and the ability to capture the spirit of the community event.” 

The first place winning logos were a tie belonging to a pair of siblings: Abigail Burger, a fifth grade student at , and William Burger, a third grade student at Armstrong Elementary School. 

“The fact that the winners were siblings was coincidental. Everyone felt each winning logo for first place brought something unique that could be used on a banner, Facebook ads, or a sponsor letter,” shared McMahon.

The second place logo was submitted by Kristen Steudel, a fifth grade student at Mill Pond School. Honorable Mention recipients included:  Connor Hounslow, Grade 8, ; Shayna Smith, Grade 4, Mill Pond School; Ethan Steinberg, Grade 2, Armstrong Elementary School; and Shirley Wang, Grade 3, .

All winning logos are now on display at the , and the winners will be honored at the Farmers’ Market launch. In addition, the winners and honorable mention recipients all received gift certificates to the market, and the first prize winners will also receive a gift basket. 

McMahon was pleased with the response to the contest and “appreciates every student taking the time and effort to put their best foot forward for this contest.” 

McMahon is excited about the opportunity to “blend all of our interests - helping Dismas House, creating a great event for people in Westborough where they also can buy freshly baked bread, a variety of just-picked vegetables, Massachusetts maple syrup, brownies, beef, pork, and lamb, wine, and even wood crafts, order native-wood Adirondack chairs and toys, and glassware.”

As of press time, McMahon confirmed the following vendors:  Five Loaves Bakery, Dismas Family Farm, Heirloom Harvest CSA, Rocky Ridge Beef Farm, Yummy Mummy Brownies and Zoll Vineyards, and has also been in touch with Elsie Kaye Glassworks from Westborough and Coutts Specialty Foods. 

McMahon told Westborough Patch that organizers are still firming up other vendor agreements, and he encourages interested artisans, artists, and farmers to contact him if interested in becoming a vendor.

The Farmers’ Market has a variety of family friendly activities lined up, including music by Westborough High School graduate and musician Dylan Smith; children’s games such as three-legged races and egg toss; a barn cut-out for pictures and a farm-themed reading next door at the library.

The organizers are working with the National Honor Society to find interns to assist with operations.  

McMahon also wants to thank the following people who are helping to make this a community event:  Selectman Tim Dodd, former selectmen George Barrette and Sue Abladian, Rich Maloney, Alysa Dver from Mint Green Marketing, Rev. Dr. Dirkje F. Legerstee from Evangelical Congregational Church and Suzanne Araponte and the board of the church, Police Chief Alan Gordon, Paul McNulty and Terry Gilchrist from the , and Nancy Yendriga.

Sponsors of the Farmers’ Market include , , Westborough Civic Club and .

The Farmers’ Market can be found on Facebook. A schedule of music and activities will be posted when it becomes available.