By Andrea Flaherty, Westford Eagle
Fueled by the growing popularity of the eat local movement, Sustainable Westford is set to provide a venue for local food shopping in every season once again this year. In its second season the winter market will offer a wider range of goods including greens, herbs, root vegetables, grass-fed and antibiotic-free meats, pastured farm eggs, milk, cheese, pasta, jams, salsa, pickles, granola, hummus, local honey and maple syrups, free-trade coffee and a variety of baked goods.
Changes this year include the addition of local produce farmers to the mix, a longer season, and change of venue. As local farms expand their greenhouse and storage operations, they now have the ability to provide a supply of apples, root crops such as potatoes, beets and carrots as well as greens and herbs deep into the winter.
Where last year’s market opened in January Sustainable Westford founder, Gloria Gilbert, saw the demand for the continuation of the summer market into late fall and decided to open the winter market in November this year. Additionally, Gilbert sought out a partner that would provide additional venue visibility and found one in Eric’s Garden Center located at 68 Boston Road in Westford.
Tom Goddard and Laura Bowden, the owner and manager respectively of Eric’s, have generously opened their venue to Sustainable Westford on Saturdays from November through March from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Opening on Saturday not only accommodates weekly supporters but allows shoppers who were not able to get to the summer market on Tuesdays the opportunity to participate.
Laura Bowden, explained, “When taking over the management of Eric’s Westford location, I realized there are a lot of opportunities for us to become more involved with the community and there are plenty of ways to become more green. For example, taking back recycled plastic pots to be reused, growing locally and only buying local produce. I feel very strongly about supporting small businesses and the local farmer.”
While Sustainable Westford’s mission is to provide local farms and vendors with a venue to extend their income beyond the traditional growing season, the win-win partnership provides Eric’s the opportunity to engage with the community in a season where they historically closed its doors. Its recent renovations also make it a perfect location.
Eric’s recently completed the largest interior renovation the current owner has ever done. “We opened up the store and by putting a new front door closer to the parking, hopefully making our access once again easy,” explains Bowden. “I hope the design and flow of the store will seem homey with our fireplace going and engaging. And it becomes a place people will come and get their market goods and be comfortable to stay, have coffee and socialize.”
Continued Bowden, “I think when times are ever changing and uncertain, the things we should rely and build on are each other. The Westford Farmers Market embodies that for me. It brings local business to local people and creates a dependency on one another.”
