Amherst Farmers’ Market Opens With Record Crowd

The Amherst Farmers’ Market kicked off its 2023 season on Saturday April 22,  with a record crowd and more vendors than ever, in spite of the gray day.  As usual, the Market attracted an eclectic mix of people from around the region, including many familiar faces and vendors.  The Market is now  held permanently on the Town Common, rather than in the parking lot, creating a much more spacious setting, with picnic tables, benches and plenty of room for performances and games.  The Market’s opening day coincided with Earth Day, and the Farmers’ Market shared the Common with a huge Sustainability Fair, featuring many local organizations promoting a variety of projects, plans and campaigns for enhancing sustainability in the Valley and globally.

Many familiar vendors have returned, including The Next Barn Over, Berkshire Mountain Bakery, Sunset Farm, Apex Orchards, Jiang Farm, Hamilton Orchards and Sweet Babu’s .   Amherst Coffee served coffee for people needing a pick-me-up.   

A highlight of the 2023 new participating vendors is the Red Fire Farm of Granby and Montague.  They brought a spectacular array of greens, freshly dug roots, veggie starts and a variety of jams, pickles and spreads, all beautifully presented in a large, two-sided display.  The line for the Berkshire Bakery felt endless.  A shopper, who finally worked her way up the line to the tent, asked the vendor which is better, the cinnamon bun or the pecan sticky bun – no hesitation, the pecan sticky bun had it over the cinnamon unless you don’t like pecans.  Who doesn’t like pecans!  She happily bought the sticky bun!

Of course, there were many dogs including an adorable white golden retriever, named Hastings in honor of the much-missed South Pleasant St. everything-you-need store.  A man wheeled around a carriage full of bunnies – I was happy to learn the bunnies were for petting not eating!  Of course, there was a tent selling CBD products and several offering perennials and cut flowers.  Lots of food to eat right there as one wandered around the lively scene.  A highlight of the ready-to-eat treats was delicious Crème Broulee, produced by CremeLA, a company founded by Amherst native Ben Orenstein, who has brought his LA-based company back home.  Staffing the tent, Dan Levine individually torched brown sugar on each newly-purchased custard creating a hot crispy finish.

In the past some vendors have enabled shoppers to use SNAP benefits to purchase food, but this is the first year the Farmers’ Market website has listed them, helping SNAP users navigate the offerings. Market Manager Dave Machowski noted: “Enabling people to use SNAP benefits increases the access to healthy, local food and helps farmers connect with the people in the Valley who have the least access to fresh food.”  He added, “The AFM is helping to combat what is essentially a “food desert” in downtown Amherst.  Other than the AFM, if one does not have transportation, or is limited to the bus, shopping for the variety we offer requires great logistics for many in need.” Dave’s energetic and ebullient leadership is a key reason this farmers market has thrived and expanded when other markets have not.

I was happy to turn the tables on the Town Photographer, Dennis Vandal, getting a photo of him with Town Manager, Paul Bockelman.  Paul is a veteran Farmers’ Market shopper, knowing many of the vendors and sharing tips on good deals and interesting people.

The Market will be on the Common every Saturday morning from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. until November 18 – taking patrons from early spring ramps and veggie starts right up to Thanksgiving preparation.  New this year: Farmers’ Market merch – hats and sweatshirts!