Fresh from the farm attracts many buyers

(Above) Marta and Wayne Klemetti, of Westminster, buy potatoes at the first Farmers' Market held on the Town Common. The markets will be held every Friday until Halloween. (Right) Department of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Petersen attended the first market as part of a celebration of Farmers Market Week. JOURNAL PHOTOS/CAITLYN KELLEHER The crowds were steady and hungry, or at least planned to be hungry, at the first Farmers' Market in Westminster on Friday, Aug. 22.

During the first day of the market, 10 vendors displayed their wares, which mostly included fruits, vegetable and flowers, but some also had honey, hand-knitted sweaters and goat-milk soap.

"For the first one it is really busy," said Allan Magane, the manager of the Farmers' Market. "We're going to try to keep it going."

The booths opened at 3 p.m. on Friday, as they will today and every Friday until Halloween. The booths will stay open until 7 p.m. for customers. The goal is also to have a band playing the gazebo tonight, Magane said.

Megan Hertel, of Maple Heights farm — what has been known as the Shenek property — was selling eggs from the 100 chickens she is raising on her parents' farm. She is hoping to get a little bit of extra spending money from the sales.

Kerrie Heretel, her mother, said they are also selling some homemade baked goods and honey that was made on the farm. This year the offerings are limited because the family is just starting the beef farm on West Princeton Road.

Catherine Magane, who was working a booth for Win Haven Farm, said she was surprised at how busy the first hour of the night was turning out. The Maganes are helping Bill Foster work his farm on Overlook Road in Westminster.

"I'm all new to farming," she said wrapping up another bag of potatoes.

She said she loves the market because of the variety it brings.

"You not only have a lot of options (for food) but you meet a lot of nice people," she said.

The vendors are charged $50 for a season pass to have a table or two on the Town Common every Friday. Those vendors that purchase a pass now will be paid through the Fall of 2009. Organizers hope to open the market in the spring next year. Vendors looking for a short-term commitment can pick to pay $2 a day to setup their stands.

Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Doug Petersen attended the opening to deliver not only a citation from Gov. Deval Patrick that celebrates Farmers' Market Week, but also to buy some vegetables for the weekend.

Westminster's Farmers' Market was one of 25 new markets to open this year across the state, which brings the total of markets statewide to 165.

"In years to come this is going to explode," Petersen said.

Petersen also took some time during his speech to promote the department's "Ag-Tag" license plate program, which gives $25 of the proceeds from the license plate sales to a perpetual trust fund to support agricultural organizations and farmers throughout the state.

For more information on the Ag Tag, contact the DAR at ag.tag@state.ma.us or (617) 626-1703.

Those farmers who are interested in selling their products can get an application at Westminster's Town Hall in the Town Clerk's Office or on the town's Web site, www.westminster-ma.gov.

For more information, please contact Bill Foster at (978) 874-2822 or (978) 790- 3231.