FARMINGTON – Saturday morning’s Farmers’ Market opened for the season, promising new vendors and ideas to make shopping more convenient.
As a steady stream of customers stopped by the district court parking lot on Main Street on Saturday morning, the week of clouds and rain cleared, bringing sun and the promise of a good season for area farmers and their products.
Marjorie Cormier of Chesterville, began baking pies and biscuits when she was eight year old. She decided to take her years of baking talent and start, My Pie, which features homemade big and little berry pies.
“I just decided to get started and see if there’s a market for it,” Cormier said as she handed out yummy little pie samples to customers. She’s worked to perfect a flaky and buttery-good pie crust that will appeal to even the most discriminating of pie fanciers.
Miniature versions of the traditional-size pie, or tiny pies, seem to be a hit. Cormier hopes the individual-size pies will take off the same way cupcakes have lately.
While the Saturday market, along with the other markets in May, start up with fewer vendors, Andy Marble of Marble Family Farm of Farmington, said he soon expects Saturday’s count to climb to between 12 to 14 vendors as the season gets growing.
To make shopping more convenient, the Saturday market is set up to accept Electronic Benefit Transfer and credit card payments. They also accept WIC farmers’ market vouchers. Marble said a customer can pick up one slip, add up all the purchases from the various vendors at the market and pay by credit card or debit all at one time, for a one-stop payment plan. Soon, the market will start its events tent featuring entertainment where the one payment at check-out can be made.
“Not everybody carries cash,” Marble said, “this will make it much more convenient.”
Besides Cormier’s My Pie, Marble said new vendors will include a variety of seedlings and another will specialize in fresh veggies.
“I really look forward to coming here on Saturday mornings,” said customer Alison Hagerstrom of Farmington.
A listing of area farmers’ markets can be seen here.
Great idea having small pies. Not only do you get to satisfy your sweet tooth but won’t have all those extra calories that you really don’t want.
bought my husband one of the little blueberry pies – he loved it…
Oh I so enjoy this market every year.
Some of the breads are fantastic.
Give em a try sometime.
You’ll be glad.