Live in Wellesley? Tired of the 20-minute drive to buy fresh produce on Saturday mornings? No need to head to the grocery store: Plans are afoot for the Wellesley Farmers’ Market, coming to the Wellesley Park Pavillion this summer.
“We love fresh produce, we love buying local, but our closest market was St. Jacobs, and sometimes it’s difficult to fight the tourists on a Saturday morning,” said organizer Pam Wideman.
“We thought, ‘Isn’t it funny that many of the vendors are coming from the Wellesley area? Why doesn’t Wellesley have its own farmers’ market?’”
The Wellesley market will welcome farmers, craft vendors, and buskers from within 30 minutes of Wellesley Village. “We’re going to be a designated farmers’ market. The majority of our vendors will actually be farmers growing their own – there’s no food terminal product.”
The idea has been popular ever since Wideman floated it on Facebook last year. “There’s a Women of Wellesley group on Facebook, and I threw it out to the ladies of Wellesley to see if there was any interest in a market, and I was completely overwhelmed with the response. That was my first step moving forward.”
Wideman adds that the goal is to create not only a market, but also an accessible community event: she hopes that the market will include performers and family activities in addition to food.
“Saturday is a family day, so it’s a good day to take your family out to the market and support local farmers and business. While you’re there, you can let your kids play while you browse around, and chances are you’re going to be shopping from your neighbours, among your neighbours.
“It’s a good community event. Even though you’re there to shop, you’ll be able to visit your neighbours and catch up with friends.”
The market will run Saturdays, June 7 to October 4, 9 a.m. to noon at the Wellesley Park Pavillion. To sign up as a vendor, volunteer, or advisory board member, contact pwidemanphoto@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.wellesleyfarmersmarket.wordpress.com or @WellesleyMarket on Twitter.
