The town’s Saturday farmers’ market has been voted best in Maryland ahead of Bethesda Central Farm Market, Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Farmers Market, West Frederick Farmers Market, and Baltimore Farmers Market under the JFX. The state ratings are part of a national contest sponsored by American Farmland Trust that drew 50,000 votes for 1200 markets from Maine to Florida, and from Maryland to California to Alaska.
“Throughout the campaign thousands of people, along with bloggers and the media were talking about the contest, helping to promote farmers markets on both the local and national level!” crows Gretchen Hoffman, Manager of Engagement and Communications with American Farmland Trust. “We certainly went a long way toward reaching our goal of making a national splash about farmers markets and the farms they support!”
Chestertown Farmers Market, which falls into the ‘small’ category with less than 30 vendors, nonetheless garnered 452 votes nearly two and a half times the second place finisher, Bethesda Central Farm Market. Part of that stellar local participation can be attributed to Jon Hanley, who had read about the contest in the Spy. He set up a booth at the market, snagged people as they approached and asked them to sign up, then registered their vote. But he didn’t do it alone.
“It was a collaborative effort,” Hanley says. “Owen McCoy registered the market. Atlantic Broadband provided the service – they dropped in the wire and the modem so people could vote right from the booth. Joanne Fairchild provided all the posters. Diane Fitzgerald took the booth last week and signed people up.”
Hanley’s enthusiasm for his quest to make Chestertown number one was infectious, but he says the market wouldn’t have gotten the votes had it not already earned patron appreciation.
“Everybody loves it,” he says. ” We had so much good feedback, some from locals and some from people from out of town, who came from the first time and wanted to vote for it too.”
American Farmland Trust notes that Maryland has been losing 20 acres of farmland per day, a loss that erodes regional food production capabilities, creating more dependence on outside sources of both food and oil for transportation. The contest was initiated to make people more aware of the importance of local farms, particularly individually-owned local farms, and the importance of both political and pocketbook support from the local community.
Jimbo says
The Chestertown Farmers’ Market pumps thousands of dollars a week into the Kent and Queen Anne’s county economies. I employ 3 people in order to produce and sell bread for just the C’Town market, and the produce growers at the market employ many more people then I do. By supporting the vendors at the farmers’ market we strengthen the economic base of our community and provide employment to our neighbors. We are first in the state because of our vendors, and because of the hard work and years of dedication of Owen McCoy,the Chestertown Farmers’ Market market master.
Jimmy Reynolds
Magnolia Bread Company
Marty Stetson says
Now the rest of the world knows what we have known for a long time, Chestertown has a great Farmer’s Market.
Thanks to Owen and to the vendors who make it a special place to go each Saturday and now Wednesday. It is not only a good place to shop but a good place to met your neighbors and the many vistors to out town.
Jackie Hardin says
As a vendor at the Chestertown Farmer’s Market we would like to thank Jon Hanley, Alantic Broadband,Joanne Fairchild,Diane Fitzgerald, Nancy Mctear ( Host of the Chestertown Farmer’s Market Facebook Page), Owen McCoy, Mayor Bailey and Council and all the many people that voted for us. Chestertown Farmer’s Market not only gives farmer’s a place to sell their goods, and patrons a place to buy locally produced foods but is a wonderful social and community event that takes place each Saturday morning from April until December. If you haven’t visited the Farmer’s Market lately we invite you to come see what all the buzz is about.