Spring Break
First Brandeis farmers market brings local fare to community
by Jillian Wagner
News Editor
News | 9/9/08
Posted online at 4:02 AM EST on 9/9/08
Brandeis and Waltham community members who attended the first of three farmers markets in the Gosman Sports and Convocation Center parking lot last Sunday said they planned to return for the next farmers market but hoped to see a larger selection of fresh produce and other goods.
According to Mariah Rich '10, who, along with Nicole Starman '10 and Samantha Lenard '10, is responsible for creating, organizing and coordinating this student-led initiative, "The event was extraordinary. The vendors had an unbelievable turnout and were all satisfied with what happened."
Liz Hanson and her mother, regular vendors at the Waltham farmers market, were approached by the coordinators of the Brandeis farmers market and asked if they had any interest in coming to Brandeis. Hanson, whose family owns Hanson Farm in Framingham, Mass., said she wished this farmers market were every week. She also said she thought the coordinators must have done a large amount of advertising because there were many people at the market and she and her brother Matt "didn't bring half as much stuff [to sell] as we should have."
Donna Hughes, a Waltham resident and a vendor selling soaps and perfumes from Donna Dee's Designs, said she decided to sell at the Brandeis farmers market because she wanted to "support the school." Hughes, who makes her own soap, began selling it two years ago and now sells it at fairs, farmers markets and craft shows. She also said she plans on returning to the Oct. 5 farmers market.
Rich said, "Some students might have been disappointed by the size of the market. It was so hard to even get the vendors we did get to come in the first place. We are going to make it bigger and better next time, though."
However, Rich was quite pleased with the turnout and overall success of the market. She said, "So many people came out, and it was so wonderful. A lot of people had a great time. Even though a farm canceled on us at 11:45 a.m. Sunday morning, it went really well, so we'll probably have double the number of vendors next time."
According to Mariah Rich '10, who, along with Nicole Starman '10 and Samantha Lenard '10, is responsible for creating, organizing and coordinating this student-led initiative, "The event was extraordinary. The vendors had an unbelievable turnout and were all satisfied with what happened."
Liz Hanson and her mother, regular vendors at the Waltham farmers market, were approached by the coordinators of the Brandeis farmers market and asked if they had any interest in coming to Brandeis. Hanson, whose family owns Hanson Farm in Framingham, Mass., said she wished this farmers market were every week. She also said she thought the coordinators must have done a large amount of advertising because there were many people at the market and she and her brother Matt "didn't bring half as much stuff [to sell] as we should have."
Donna Hughes, a Waltham resident and a vendor selling soaps and perfumes from Donna Dee's Designs, said she decided to sell at the Brandeis farmers market because she wanted to "support the school." Hughes, who makes her own soap, began selling it two years ago and now sells it at fairs, farmers markets and craft shows. She also said she plans on returning to the Oct. 5 farmers market.
Rich said, "Some students might have been disappointed by the size of the market. It was so hard to even get the vendors we did get to come in the first place. We are going to make it bigger and better next time, though."
However, Rich was quite pleased with the turnout and overall success of the market. She said, "So many people came out, and it was so wonderful. A lot of people had a great time. Even though a farm canceled on us at 11:45 a.m. Sunday morning, it went really well, so we'll probably have double the number of vendors next time."
Be the first to comment on this story