I just love being a vendor at my farmers markets. I belong to three of them. I love the hustle and bustle of the crowds, gabbing with visitors that visit our neck of the woods each summer — as well as the regulars. This past weekend was no exception.. the Kennebunk market is my favorite for a variety of reasons, partly for the commraderie of 33 vendors, and another– because it is so pro four legged visitors. Yup, every Saturday we have such an array of pooches visiting the market. Some belong to vendors, others just passersby, and still others that get in line with their owners to pick up the freshest organic produce, baked goods and seasonal fresh fruits of the day, as well as someones herbal soaps. *Shameless plug LOL The only day of the season we ask folks to leave their furry friends at home is on Chicken Coop day — it really upsets the girls and we can’t have them not laying their fresh eggs now can we?
We also have many summer events at our market –Spring Has Sprung Day, Farm Day, Chicken Coop Day, Spinners & Fibre Day, Tomato Tasting Day and last of all Best Apple Day. I’m going to suggest a Salsa Saturday for next year! Wouldn’t that be neat?
For the past few weeks one of our vendors has had standing room only space in their line. Their product? Peaches — glorius peaches. You know the kind — when you take that first bite into them and that luscious nectar dribbles down to your chin and you just can’t wait to dive right in for your next bite? LOL THESE are the peaches I’ve described. Market opens at 8 am. We vendors begin setting up at 6am. During peach season, customers begin lining up at 7am to make sure they won’t miss out! And sadly, some do. Ann & Howard bring to market only the best of fruits, from early season strawberries, to blueberries, to peaches, nectarines and apples.. along with many selections of Ann’s wonderful homemade pies, jams and jellies. They bring with them each week so far of peach season, between 250-500 pounds of peaches. That’s alotta peaches! As Howard so aptly puts it, this is what we do now that we are ‘retired’ .Their booth is right next door to mine and I just love to see the expressions on all the folks that wait so patiently in the line to place their orders. This year we even needed to rope off an entrance lane there were so many customers. You can almost see some of these women’s wheels spinning– planning out what they will make with their scrumptious golden jewels. Lucky for me I’m a vendor, because Annie will fill our orders firstly before her regular customers, so some Saturday mornings it’s really worth rolling out of bed at 4:30am anticipating what fruits of the day will await you when you arrive. 🙂 We are now into week four of peachy season and so far I have made a blueberry peach galettes, peach morning muffins, peach custard tart, amaretto peach brandy along with forty-eight jars of assorted peach jams. I think I really missed the boat not making some peach soaps! But that’s another story. LOL We’re in the process of expanding our market next year, as we acquired some newfound space.. so I suggested we name the new street — Peach Tree Row!
Peachy day at Kennebunk farmers market
As the line progresses I get a birdseye view of so many four legged friends that I couldn’t resist putting together a shot of the regulars seen at market. They wait as patiently as their owners in line for their turn.
Dog days of summer at market
Well this Saturday was no exception at market, another seasonal special event — Tomato Tasting Day. With last years awful blight we experienced here in our neck of the woods, we were hard pressed to even come up with tomatoes for the public to sample, judge and vote upon. But this year.. uhuh– it’s been a glorious growing season, though we really could use some rain–no farmer is complaining, especially me. My freezer is full, my cupboards are well stocked with canned veggies, tomato sauces, jellies and jams.
What a beautiful array of color, flavor, shapes and types we offered for sampling. Most of the customers were in awe of the selections. Four finished recipes were brought for many to sample– most to have disappeared by 10 am–such a great turnout! That’s another thing I really love about the Kennebunk market — community participation and endorsement. It’s really a nice feeling knowing the community is all for us being there each week, and how generously they support our endeavors. Remarkable really.
Kennebunk's Tomato Tasting Day at Farmers Market
Where is your farmers market and do you support your local market? I surely hope so! Please leave a link, as I just love visiting other markets across the country.
Remember -- No Farms - No Food
