Farmers Market Opens Saturday

The Westfield Farmers Market opens Saturday with some new offerings and plenty of familiar favorites.

Sponsored by the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the market will open from 8:30 to 2 p.m. Saturdays through Oct. 26. While vendors were previously situated in Lot 3 of the South Avenue train station, the market will be set up closer to the intersection of South and Summit Avenues, still within the lot. 

Heather Robinson, executive director of the GWACC, explained that the market is an extension of the chamber's "shop local, buy local" philosophy, with everything sourced from within the Garden State. 

Returning with their farm-fresh produce will be Donaldson Farms, Peaceful Valley Orchards and Skeba Farms. 

"We feel really good about the fact that it's all coming from about an hour away," said Robinson

New to market this year will be Sutton Family Farms, a dairy farm, offering an assortment of meats and cheeses, Robinson said.

Shonna's Sweet Bites, featuring cookies, brownies, and tarts is also new to the market this season. Robinson noted that Lithuanian Bakery will be returning for the season and the two should complement each other nicely. 

"Lithuanian Bakery has lovely, preservative-free breads and as we move into fall, they bring pies and the cider donuts that are so popular but Shonna's is a little different," explained Robinson. "We're hoping that if you're planning your Saturday dinner you'll be able to get everything in one place--your meats, cheeses, produce, breads and dessert, too."

Other returning vendors include Pizza Vita, featuring a truck with a wood-burning oven that turns out pizzas in 90 seconds. 

In additon to an olive oil and vinegar supplier, also new this season will be a tented seating area, offering a shady spot for customers to sit and enjoy some of their purchases.

"There's a lot of excitement," said Robinson. "We've a done a lot and we're moving in the right direction."

For more information, visit the GWACC's website.