Farmers Market fun
Gatherings a way to bring community together, residents say
GREENFIELD, N.Y. » What began as something to simply bring the Greenfield community together has turned into a farmers market that will be setting up for the 11th straight summer.
“It seems like just yesterday we started out of the back of a pickup truck in front of the Historical Society,” said trustee of the Greenfield Historical Society Ron Deutsch. “It’s really grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade or so.”
The Greenfield Farmers Market opens June 23, running every Friday from 4-7 p.m. in Middle Grove Park on Middle Grove Road through the second week of September.
“When [the historical society] first started this we were trying to think of ways we could engage the community and bring the community together around some sort of venue, and that’s really how we came up with hosting a farmer’s market,” said Deutsch. “We knew there were a lot of people in Greenfield and the surrounding areas that were either farmers or crafts people or were selling various products that they made themselves. It just seemed like a perfect opportunity to bring everybody together and serve the community as well.”
The market features fresh vegetables and produce, honey, maple syrup, fresh eggs, specialty olive oils and spices, fresh fruits, baked goods, home-made pickles, local crafts and much more.
Tinney’s Tavern, a local Middle Grove landmark restaurant atop Lake Desolation, will provide Friday dinners to eat right at the market. Pulled pork, sausage and peppers and salads will be served every Friday.
“The Greenfield Farmers Market seeks to be more than just a place to shop, we want to be a Friday gathering place for the community,” said Mary Vetter, president of the town of Greenfield Historical Society. “We will have something for everyone at this market and we urge families to come with their children since we are right next to a great playground area in the town of Greenfield’s Middle Grove Park.”
Music plays a role in the market experience. Opening days features the local group, Happenstance, who play a variety of songs ranging from classic rock to Celtic folk.
“We love to feature local musicians, local artists, often times we have local authors as well to do storytelling,” said Deutsch. “We’re trying to make this more of a community gathering place, so folks can come down on a Friday night. They can mingle with their neighbors and friends, listen to music, enjoy their dinner and do their shopping for the week.”
For years the market hosted a talented young musician, Sawyer Fredericks, who won the eighth season of NBC’s “The Voice.”
“Sawyer probably played more at our market than any other musician we’ve had to date,” said Deutsch. “I think we all knew that Sawyer was a special talent — just listening to him week after week,
you could not help but notice that this young man sang with the heart and soul of someone four times his age. He will be missed and never forgotten, but I assume he won’t be playing for veggies anymore.”
This year there will be a number of new vendors, including new vegetable ones.
“I think we have been able to grow the market steadily year after year,” said Deutsch. “This year will probably be our biggest year ever.”
The Historical Society will also be offering tours of historic Odd-Fellows Hall – located just next to Middle Grove Park. The Historical Society has just completed work on the Chatfield Museum of Greenfield History on the second floor of the building. The museum features exhibits on historic activities in Greenfield, including different industries that have developed over time and historic events that have occurred in the town over the years. The historic hall will be open during market hours.
The Historical Society accomplished its initial goal of bringing the community together, and then some as the farmer’s market celebrates its 11th year.