Crescent Ridge announces new farmer’s market
By Mary Ann PriceOn warm summer days, people flock to Crescent Ridge Dairy in Sharon to enjoy the ice cream, quickly filling all the spaces in the parking lot. The dairy’s parking lot will be filled this Saturday, June 8, but not necessarily with people looking for a sweet treat. Instead, Crescent Ridge is hosting its first annual farmer’s market in honor of the dairy’s 81st anniversary. The market will be held all summer and into the fall.
“We’ve been talking about it for a number of years,” said Bob Ward of Ward Communications, which handles marketing and advertising for the dairy. “We want to give local residents a chance to buy local brands and support local vendors.”
Ward cast a large net in finding and selecting local vendors. The first step was to check with other farmer’s markets in the area to see which products were popular with shoppers. Once that step was completed, the circle was widened to increase the variety of products.
Ackermann Maple Farm of Cabot, Vermont, will be at the market, selling bottles of maple syrup. The small business opened in 2013. Since there is no maple farm in the area, Ward wanted to find a business that would provide fresh maple syrup, a perfect complement to the dairy’s ice cream.
Alfalfa Farm Winery in Topsfield and Westport Rivers Winery will sell bottles of their wine, which each winery produces from grapes grown on their land. A number of bakeries will be selling fresh breads and pastries, including Babycakes & Confections of Stowe (cupcakes, brownies and more); Big Sky Bread Bakery & Cafe of Newton (bread and more); and Ever So Humble Pie Company, Inc. of Walpole, which was chosen as one of the five best pie companies in New England by Yankee Magazine.
Plenty of fresh produce will be available from Ward’s Berry Farm of Sharon and Pleasant Valley Gardens of Methuen. Golden Girl Granola of Carlisle will sell its homemade granola. Coutts Specialty Foods of Boxborough will have jars of its preserves based on a family recipe. Earrings, necklaces and other items will be on display through Made With Love: Handmade Jewelry by Shana.
In addition to the ice cream, chocolate milk and homemade lemonade, Crescent Ridge sells its own beef and pork. Ward said the cows and pigs are raised on the farm. Those foods are available to the home delivery customers, and the dairy has opened a small retail space inside the dairy bar that allows walk-in customers to purchase them as well. Beef and pork will also be for sale at the farmer’s market.
The aim of the market is to support good health, sustainable agriculture, open space, and the local economy. “This is the first time that we’re doing this,” Ward said of the market. “We’re showcasing local vendors that residents may not be aware of. They have local fresh products. We’re a local brand. We will have local retailers.”
For a complete list of vendors and links to their websites, go to crescentridgefarmersmarket.com/vendors.html. The Crescent Ridge Farmer’s Market will be held every Saturday beginning June 8 until October 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Crescent Ridge Dairy is located at 355 Bay Road in Sharon.
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Posted by Mary Ann Price
on Jun 6 2013. Filed under Business.
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