Thanks for a fantastic summer season!

The 23rd season of the Sally Frank’s Farmers’ Market has come to a close and
we’d like to send a great big THANK YOU to everyone who helped make it one of the most successful ever.

The monthly  Melrose Wakefield (MeWa) Winter Farmers Market will be held at Memorial Hall starting November 20, 2016.  The 2017 summer market will run on Thursdays starting June 8 until October 26.

There were so people who made the 2016 summer farmers’ market possible, whether you were a vendor, shopper, volunteer, performer, nonprofit, local business, farmers’ market planner, bike repairer, Master Gardener, musician, or City staff member— it takes a community to make a farmers market.We are fortunate to have wonderful local farmers, specialty food vendors, and artisans whose products are raised or made with great care and thus are always top-notch. But, without loyal shoppers, we’d have no market. Our farmers and other vendors always say how nice the people who shop at our market are. Please know that your support is greatly appreciated and is crucial to the ongoing success of our market.

Thank you to those who stepped up at least once, and some many times:: Alicia Coble, Alison Birch, Ann McCarthy, Annie Pevear, Dave DiMattia, Jessica Hemmer, Kathy Tully, Lisa Alan, Susanne Guirakhoo, David Donovan, Katelyn Rosario, Myranda Olwert, Zach Cunningham, Liz Meyer, Joel Moses, Kathryn Sloan, Patrick Barrasso, and Laura DiMattia.

Thanks to our market planners who work behind the scenes: Jeni Cram on Facebook and website, Kristin Doucette on the newsletter, Susanne Guirakhoo coordinating our artists, Jessica Hemmer coordinating our non-profits, Julie Merrigan creating our graphics, Erika Nauda on the newsletter.

Thank you to the Way-sign Caretakers who control the 25 plus signs all around Melrose every:  Gerard Frazier, Michael & Marina Lacorazza, Scott Macaulay, Trudy Macdonald, Susanne Guirakhoo, Kathy Harlow, Jim Halligan, Martha Grover, Joan Lounsbury, Mark Remollino, Maura Donahue, Maureen Elia, Joyce Zeiner, Christine Shirey, Bill Dowdall, Tom Buske, Melissa Giamanco, and Laura DiMattia.You’ll be pleased to know how many people rely on those signs!

Thank you Melrose Urban Farmers! The people who opened up their homes in June for our first Urban Farm Tour fundraiser include:  Mike Festa, Meghan Wenzel, Joan & Phil Lounsbury, Mary Clark, Jeffrey & Gosia Symons, Maureen Pyatt, Katie Gallagher & Chayil Timmerman, Laura & Dave DiMattia, Ellen Cobau, Melanie Burke, Trudy Macdonald.  And, thanks to the volunteers who helped homeowners and staffed the tour table include Erika Nauda, Janice Bissex, Don Bissex, Janine Venuti, Callie McDowell, Virginie Auvergne, Martha Borkan, Mary Beth Griscom, Jeni Cram, Susanne Guirakhoo.

Thank you farmers! Our farmers market wouldn’t be a market at all without our wonderful farms and local food vendors including: Ackermann Maple Farm, Bagel Land of Winchester, Bondat Foods, Caroline’s Kitchen, LLC, Deano’s Pasta, Dick’s Market Garden, Flats Mentor Farms, Foxboro Cheese, Jaju Pierogi, Jennifer Lee’s Gourmet Bakery, Laszlo Family Farm, Oakdale Farm, Omega Oil, On the Edge Knife, Popover Lady, Pour Man’s Coffee LLC, Roasted Granola, Roberto’s Seafood, Samira’s, Shady Pine Farm, The Soup Guy, and Suzanne Goodwin.

Thanks to the musicians who add to the festive atmosphere so enjoyed by our market goers. They include: Amy Spillert, Ken Templeton, Julie Dougherty, Stephen Moore, Paul Harty, Ed Driscoll, Prateek Poddar, Dylan Cohen, Timothy Maxwell, Flash Jack Eppington, Greg Guba, Kat Kennedy, The Whiskey Barrel Band, Frank Drake, Kali Stoddard-Imari, Marilyn Kirby, Frances Garrett, Avi Meyers, Morgan Johnston, and Zack Bolles.  And a drum rolland thank you to Tim Kochanski who coordinated all the musicians and brought the music to a new level!

Thanks to participants at the market who add something special.  Cooking by Amy Rindskopf and Jordan de Guzman from Bondat Foods, Master Gardeners Trudy Macdonald and Maureen Pritzker provided sound gardening advice, the Melrose Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee providing free monthly bike tune-ups, Dawn Folopoulos from the Melrose Council on Aging arranging free trips to the market for seniors, Barre and Soul Yoga providing free Yoga in the Park; and Steph Zabel from Flowerfolk herbs leading the herb walks.

We’d also like to recognize the City of Melrose’s on-going support:  Joan Bell from the Park’s Department, Mike Lindstrom and Brigid Alverson from the Mayor’s Office, Ruth Clay, Jen Keough and Melissa Ripley from the Health Dept, and Frank Wright, Alderman from Ward 3 ,home to Bowden Park. And a shout out to Alderman David Conn and who delivered a proclamation on National Farmers’ Market Week and Zach Crowley from Senator Jason Lewis’s office who also attended.

This year we were able to hire part time staff members to assist with running the market.  We welcomed Jeff Lounsbury, originally from Melrose, who is the Market Coordinator, and Meagan Erhart who is a Tufts Intern in the Nutrition Program as the SNAP Coordinator.  Their roles are crucial for consistency at the market every week.  Thanks to their commitment for making our shoppers feel welcome.

We are also grateful to our sponsors who make our programs possible:  Melrose Cooperative Bank in support of our SNAP matching program as well as the senior and WIC (women, children and infants) coupons, Eastern Bank, Messina Fund in support of the music program, and the New England Grass Roots Fund who, in part, made it possible for us to hire our staff this year.

Thanks to our local businesses and non-profit organizations for sharing their service offerings at the market. Thanks also to Throne Depot, Curious Creatures, Yardbird Backyard Chickens, Drumlin Farm, Animal Craze, Boston Hoop Troop, and Tai Chi.

Finally, the Board would like to acknowledge the contribution that Cindy Chabot has made to the Melrose community over the last six years. Her leadership, creativity and drive have made the market a community institution.  This year has been one of transition and we appreciate her commitment and support as we move forward together. Thank you, Cindy!

Again, thank you to everyone who took part – it takes a great community to make a great market!

Sally Frank Farmers’ Market Board of Directors, Diana Weinburg (President), Ali DiMatteo(Vice-President),  Laura McKelligott Kahl (Secretary), Ruth Moses (Treasurer), Mary Kay Crepinsek, and Maureen Elia.