Category: Chickity check it!

Cape Ann Farmers Market July 10-October 9, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

The Cape Ann Farmers’ market located on Harbor Loop starts its third season on Thursday, July 10th. This season brings a new manager, Jessica Hayes, whose experience in agriculture, non-profit management and community organizing has helped grow this market into a true local market. “With record high fuel prices and grain shortages conventional food prices are skyrocketing making local farmers’ markets a viable economic alternative for purchasing farm fresh produce, meats, cheese and other local goods” stated the new manager, Jessica Hayes. “Further, public markets help stimulate the local economy, provide local jobs and protect productive lands” added Niki Bogin of the Cape Ann Farmers’ Market advisory team.

The market has diversified to include Cape Ann artisans, local musicians, a children’s activity and two education tables focused on alternative energy and environmental sustainability. Rotating educational displays will cover topics including wind and solar power, ways to minimize our carbon footprint, organic gardening, compost, recycling and beekeeping in Essex County. The children’s activities are hosted and taught by community volunteers and will feature beading, pottery, crafts from recycled goods and fun with food. The children’s activities will take place every market day at 4:00 pm. Local guitar instructors and harmony vocalists, Janice Fullman and Sheila Jones start this year’s “open market” music series at 4:45 p.m. They sing and blend their acoustic guitars on a repertoire of “classic hits”.

Participating artisans include the Present Collective, Twin Lights Pottery, Helen Parker Textiles, Camilla Macfadyen’s block print clothes as well as jewelers, ironworkers and fiber artists. Returning produce vendors include Cider Hill Farms, The Farm stand at Brox Farm and The Food Project. New this year from South Hamilton is Three Sisters Farm which is working towards organic certification and practices biointensive growing. Additionally the Back Yard Growers will expand to a weekly table including 5 – 10 Cape Ann growers selling their homegrown produce, flowers, seedlings, compost, dried herbal teas, fresh local eggs, meat and poultry shares. The backyard growers are also hosting an “ask the farmer” hour at their booth.

Artisan baker A.J. King of Salem will join the market once a month and the Swiss Baker returns weekly. The Pleasant Street Tea Company will provide various ready-to-eat wraps, coffee and herbal teas; the Common Crow returns with an expanded offering of regional artisan meats, poultry, cheese and eggs along with prepared foods, snacks and beverages. Steve Connolly’s Seafood will once again sell fresh fish including local shellfish such as lobster and crab rolls. Additionally, the Fishermen’s Wives Association will join the market to sell their cookbook and talk about the fishing community of Gloucester. Baer’s Best Beans returns with their heirloom dried beans, Sunflowers and In Good Taste will be back with their specialty salsa. Couttes Specialty Foods brings an array of home made jams and will alternate weeks with a new vendor, Sassy River Sauces which flavors the market with tapenades, pestos and chutneys.

The Cape Ann Farmers’ Market accepts WIC, EBT, debit cards, Senior Farmers’ Market Coupons and cash. The Farmers’ Market is a project of Sustainable Cape Ann who will be a weekly presence at the market answering questions about building viable sustainability projects on Cape Ann. To volunteer, donate funds or for more information check out http://www.sustainablecapeann.org or call 978.281.1127.

The Details:
Cape Ann Farmers’ Market
July 10 – Oct 9
3:30 – 6:30
Harbor Loop