BRATTLEBORO-• Franklin Chrisco of Brattleboro, co-owner of True North Granola, is a vendor: "We've been a part of BAFM for 18 years. The community is the main thing that works. All these folks are independent. They are creative and thoughtful and care about each other. Our market is a juried market so the quality is high. It's a lab for us. We started with one product and now we have 20. Our first product, Go Nuts, with almonds, pecans, pistachios, cranberries, and maple syrup, is still the most popular. The First Date, our newest product, is a popular one, also."
• Susan Dunning of Ludlow, owner of SWD Potteryworks, is a vendor and sells handmade pottery, flowers, and bulbs: "I've been part of it since 1989, and it's very exciting. It's a wonderful institution. The biggest change is when we started, we rented the property from three different places. Over the years that has changed, and we know own all of the property that we use. I want to thank USDA Rural Development for giving us mortgages for two of the properties and grants to help us buy the properties. I grow chickens and raise meat birds and grow vegetables and fruit, but what I don't grow I can buy here. It's most important to buy local and organic."
• Jerry Smith of Guilford, owner of Deer Ridge Farm, has been a vendor for 40 years: "We're in a flood plain and are working to preserve this land by growing grass. It's a fragile ecosystem and trying to preserve this amazing place here on the Whetstone Brook is challenging. This site is prone to flooding. We are hoping to use it as a flood plain, when we're not here and down it goes. Flowers are a big part of our farm, since we grow 200 to 300 different varieties of cut flowers. We have different flowers every week. People love that they get to make their own bouquets. We farm on 3 acres, and we make maple syrup and grow strawberries and hundreds of varieties of cut flowers. BAFM is a great community resource which has provided me with a livelihood for a long time and for that I am very grateful."
• Kelly Brown of Brattleboro is the BAFM market manager: "This is my second year as market manager. It's an incredible accomplishment for a nonprofit organization run by small business owners to be operating for so long. It takes a lot of people to make these connections around food and to maintain the community that keeps coming back. I can get all of my groceries here. I love to know the people who are growing food for me and my kids."
• Martha Miller Grace of Deerfield, Massachusetts, was volunteering at the 50th anniversary celebration. She's been at BAFM her whole life - 40 years : "My family [who runs Dwight Miller Orchards] has been vending and was instrumental in market organization. I remember hanging out with my Aunt Cathy and learning how to be helpful, and over time, I became less annoying. I was running around and letting my prankster out.
"I served as market manager in the early 2010s when we dealt with flooding from Irene and helped the market rebuild. We had these massive channels cut through and had members who called in to bring in fill - dump truck after dump truck. We worked hard to get it back.
"I love that it's an incubator for so many small businesses and people are from so many different backgrounds. If you have a desire to grow vegetables but don't have a storefront or distribution system, you can come vend at the market and get access to hundreds of customers every week. We are very proud and happy to be 50 years in business and hope to be here many more years."
• Ketan Kinkhabwala of West Dover, owner of Shital's Indian Vegetarian, is a food vendor. His daughter Aashna was working with him: "This is our 22nd year with the farmers market. It's a great market, good people and great atmosphere. My daughter grew up here since age 5. It's a welcoming open place to be with lots of diversity from food to agriculture to crafts."
• Varee Sylvester of Brattleboro is owner of Thai Hut and is a food vendor: "We've been part of BAFM for 15 years. I love it. Beautiful community and everyone knows everyone. I moved from Tampa, Florida, and I came when my daughter [Natasha Sylvester] was 2 years old. Now she's 21 and I raised her at the market. She's here helping me today, and goes to college in Manhattan. My family owned a Thai restaurant in Tampa and one in Bangkok, Thailand. I learned to cook from my mom and Grandma - every day washing dishes and cutting vegetables. I'm from Bangkok and came here when I was 15, and now I'm 53. People here are very sweet and everybody helps out."
• Julie Fraser of Newfane is owner of Sacred Earth fresh pressed juice and smoothies, and is a food vendor: "It's great that it's been going on for so long and great to be a part of that. There are a lot of people that care and want a sense of community. Our most popular smoothie is the Evergreen, which is mango, avocado, coconut water, and spinach."
• Gina Drescher of Brattleboro is a regular BAFM shopper who was there with her daughter Nova, age 8, who sold flower starts on May 17, since it was "Kids Day." Nova is raising money for Girls on the Run, since she's old enough to be on the team this year. When showing The Commons her wares, Nova explains, "If you sing to the plants, they will grow better."
• Emma Schneider of Brattleboro is a BAFM shopper and was accompanied by her daughter, Iona: "We've been coming to market for eight years. We love seeing everybody out and about. It's a social space. People looking for pastry or the best eggs in town can come here. I love that we always see people we know and see new people. People care about local food and they care about the community. Supporting our farmers and our artisans, makers, and creators makes our community vibrant and creative and special."
• Dr. Elizabeth Goodridge of Brattleboro is a new BAFM shopper who recently moved here to work at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital as an OB-GYN. Her son William is 10 and daughter Scarlett is 8, and they are selling their wares today at the Kids Market: "We just moved here last fall so this is our first time at the BAFM. One thing we like about living in Brattleboro is the sense of community. They do great things in this town with kids and they had a kids craft fair today. Scarlett is selling gem art coasters and William is selling bracelets."
• Bertie Sprague of Brattleboro has been a regular BAFM shopper for most of its 50 years: "The fresh vegetables and fresh bakery products are my favorites. I think it's great for the farmers and the agricultural community. They have a common place to sell their wares and show the hard work they do. I prefer to buy here. I have a small garden. They have things here that I don't have the space to grow. It's a real asset to the community. It's unique in some ways and a nice gathering place."
This News item was submitted to The Commons.