GREENFIELD — While the official start is still weeks away, it sure felt like fall at the weekly Greenfield Farmers Market Saturday.
On a crisp Saturday morning in Court Square, farmers and local craftspeople were gearing up for the final two months of the market’s season, which ends Oct. 30. As people were shopping for produce and meats, a local resident provided the soundtrack as she played a guitar and sang acoustic songs from the town common.
Market Manager Victoria McGarril said business has been “great” for the market and they are expecting more and more visitors as the fall crops come into season. She added it has been a pleasure welcoming people to the market each week after many people opted out last year because of the pandemic.
“August is always a little slow, every week it’s been a little busier,” McGarril said. “It’s kind of nice to have that sense of normalcy.”
McGarril said there are no pandemic-related precautions in place — people are encouraged to do what makes them comfortable — but they are monitoring the situation and will follow local guidelines for masking and distancing, if those orders are passed.
“We’ll follow whatever the county board of health says,” she said. “We want to prioritize everyone’s safety.”
McGarril said there are several dates with special events planned in the final two months of the market. A children’s day will be held Sept. 18, which will feature activities on the town common and will teach kids about the produce, animals and farmers in the community that produce their food. There will “likely” be a Halloween event Oct. 30, the last day of the season, among other possible events in between.
Overall, McGarril said the market is “happy to be here” and has welcomed the community back with open arms after taking extensive precautions last year.
“It’s a great example of resilience in this community,” she said. “I think people missed us.”
Maggie Melchiorre, of Lyonsville Farm, said business at the market has been good thus far, even with the extreme weather this summer.
“I feel like it’s been pretty good,” Melchiorre said. “You kind of roll with the punches as a farmer.”
She said the community support has been great and they are happy to reconnect with people after wearing masks for more than a year.
“The community has been very supportive and caring about the weather,” Melchiorre said. “It’s nice to see more faces.”
For shoppers looking for fall produce in the next two months, Melchiorre recommended honeynut and other winter squashes, along with “hearty, soup vegetables.”
Produce and meat aren’t the only things available at the Greenfield Farmers Market. Saturday’s market featured local artists selling their creations, a knife-sharpening tent and a live cooking demonstration.
Johnny Bossuot, a Greenfield-based “nutritious cooking support” teacher, held her monthly cooking demo at Saturday’s market. She started her morning slicing up colorful chard as she prepared her stir fry.
“I’m looking to offer food to people who are looking to make dietary changes,” Bossuot said as she was chopping up leafy greens. “I’m trying to decrease the isolation of healthy eating … plus the pandemic.”
She said her monthly tent usually features produce from other vendors at the market and next month’s demo will feature mushrooms from local farms.
“I’m trying to create a community around healthy eating,” Bossuot said.
Greenfield resident Joannah Whitney said she loves the Greenfield Farmers Market and she is glad to be able to get out more as she is comfortable with their pandemic precautions.
“A morning like this, it’s really the start of fall,” Whitney said. “I love it, it’s wonderful to see all the local produce … I’m really glad to see people have done this in a way that’s comfortable.”
Although she still wants to enjoy summer produce like the tomatoes she’s waited all summer for, Whitney said she is excited for the traditional autumn offerings.
“I’m not ready to give up corn,” she joked. “I’m more interested in soups and stews and heartier fall vegetables.”
Whitney highlighted the local connection as the most important reason she shops at the market and she hopes other people will help keep regional farms alive.
“We’re really lucky we have such a great farmers market, it’s a wonderful way to support local farmers,” Whitney said. “I think about the way we spend money on food and how it connects to our community.”
The Greenfield Farmers Market is held every Saturday, rain or shine, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Court Square.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.