Westford Farmers' Market Celebrates 2013, Prepares For Future

Tuesday marks the end of the year for the Westford Farmers’ Market. To the market’s organizer, 2013 was a year of growth and success, but 2014 will still require continued evolution.

Now concluding its seventh year, Farmers’ Market and Sustainable Westford founder Gloria Gilbert thinks that in order for the Westford Farmers’ Market to continue, it will need to differentiate itself from other nearby farmers’ markets.

“It’s somewhat of a tradition, but in order to be on top of your game, you need to change up,” says Gilbert. “I want to change things in order to accommodate the community in a better way. It has to change or it will not survive in the diverse world of farmers markets.”

With over 200 farmers’ markets across the state, Gilbert believes that the “market” for markets has become watered down, and that only markets who stay true what she sees as the purpose of a farmers’ market will be able to thrive.

“My words of wisdom, I believe you need to know the mission of your market, have more than just arts and crafts,” she says. “It’s really about sustainable agriculture and to highlight local food producers. That’s the essence of a real farmers’ market.”

For Gilbert, one of the key factors in helping Westford’s Farmers’ Market meet those ideals came from the help of the market’s Westford Academy staff, who earned plaudits two weeks ago from Westford Academy principal James Antonelli and State Representative James Arciero.

In the eyes of Gilbert, some of the key criticisms of the market, such as issues with parking and traffic on market days, have been successfully addressed this year thanks to the help of the Westford Academy staffers such as Thomas Ryan

“Most of the parking lots are 50 percent full, but it’s hard to tell if all of those people are there for the market. There’s almost always a space available, “said Ryan. “And as for traffic (near the Common), sometimes Lincoln Street gets a little congested, but generally it’s not so bad in regard to traffic.”

While the Westford Winter Farmers’ Market at what once was Eric’s will not be returning this year, Gilbert believes the spirit of the Market will continue on with Sustainable Westford’s Winter Series.

More on the Winter Series, the Market and other Sustainable Westford initiatives is available on the Sustainable Westford website.