Annual Report

 
 
 Wayne Farmers’ Market
 Summer 2022
 

The Wayne Farmers’ Market opened for its fourteenth season on Saturday, May 28th, 2022, and continued each Saturday morning through the Labor Day weekend.

The Market is not only a place to purchase locally grown and produced food and other products, but also a lively community gathering place. Many thanks to all who contribute to making the Farmers’ Market a vibrant asset to our community – vendors, shoppers, volunteers, musicians, the town of Wayne, and all who contribute ideas.

Twelve vendors sold a wide variety of products, including vegetables, berries, herbs, micro greens, flowers, plants, meat, eggs, cheese, maple products, honey, pepper jellies, baked goods, goats’ milk soap, body care products, lavender products, and pottery.
The 2022 vendors were Birtwell Farm (Wayne), Gingerbread Farm (Wayne), Grey Goose Gourmet (Wayne), A Lakeside Pottery (Wayne), Moonglow Lavender (Wayne), A Small Town Bakery (Wayne), Bragg’s Maple Products (Sumner), Cosmic Goat Farm & Creamery (Litchfield), Cranberry Rock Farm (Winthrop), Firelight Farm (Livermore Falls), Pickles’ Potions (Winthrop), and Sparkplug Farm (Leeds). The regular vendors were on occasion joined by the Wayne Community Church, a local resident giving away handmade walking sticks, guest artisans, and several young entrepreneurs. Stan Davis often entertained both adults and children with his songs and stories. The highlight of many market mornings was the singing of young visitors.

Vendors appreciated increased activity during the annual Strawberry Festival on July 9, which brought a large influx of visitors from around the region. Most vendors also offered special strawberry-related items at their booths on festival day. Many thanks to WFM Board member Tammy Birtwell and the Festival team for the long hours they devoted to making the Festival a fun family event, with a variety of booths, activities, food offerings, and music.
 
The Farmers’ Market is a financially self-supporting town activity. Vendor fees and donations cover all expenses. The Market Committee, comprised of community members and vendors, organizes and runs the market, and welcomes suggestions from the community.
Whether you are a year-round resident, a summer resident, or an occasional visitor, the Market is a great way to meet people, purchase fresh, local food and other products, and enjoy summer Saturday mornings. The highly visible location on the green next to the scenic Mill Pond, with its occasional visiting loon, is appreciated by both vendors and visitors. We are open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, every Saturday morning from 9:00 am until noon. We hope to see you there.

The Wayne Farmers’ Market was begun in 2009 by Emily Perkins, as her senior year project at Maranacook Community High School. We want to honor and remember her, with affection and gratitude for her dedication to local food and community.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Wayne Farmers’ Market Committee:    
 
Theresa Kerchner (Chair and Treasurer)                 Tammy Birtwell (Vendor representative)
Leslie Burhoe (Co-Chair and Vendor relations)      Cindy Townsend (Vendor representative)
Jane Davis (Secretary and Publicity) 
 
Website: www.waynefarmersmarket.weebly.com          
FB: www.facebook.com/wayne.maine.farmers.market/