The harvest is in. An avalanche of fresh fruits and veggies—from peaches, apples and melons to eggplant, corn, beans, fall greens and more—are overflowing stands at local farmers’ markets. And sunflowers, gladiolas, or lisianthus are just a few of the flowers popping open to feed your soul.
After the summer’s heavy rains, strong sun and warm days brought local crops to fruition in a big way. Farm stands are weighted down with produce ripe for the picking before first frost. And farmers’ markets are still going strong, even with special events planned for fall.
Most open-air markets are open to the middle of October on the Seacoast, and a couple extend their seasons even further. This year for the first time, the Exeter Farmers’ Market will stay open to the end of October. Until Thursday, Oct. 29, you can find over 30 vendors at Swasey Parkway, from 2:15 to 6:00 p.m. every week.
Portsmouth, host to the Seacoast’s first Seacoast farmers’ market back in 1977, is the both the largest and the latest running of all. Its final day for 2009 won’t be until Saturday, Nov. 7. In the meantime, over 40 vendors of local produce, meats, dairy products, seafood, gourmet prepared foods and a variety of fine crafts are set up at City Hall every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All markets are open rain or shine.
On Saturday, October 3, Portsmouth Farmers’ Market will host its annual Children’s Day. The event will feature exhibits and fun, nature-based learning with White Pine Programs of Cape Neddick, Maine, and the Seacoast Science Center. More fun will also come between 9:00 a.m. and Noon, when kids of all ages are invited to join an extravaganza of painting pumpkins and gourds.
Local crooner Dan Blakeslee will be setting a festive tone with live music for Children’s Day on Oct. 3. As always, live entertainment is scheduled every week at the Portsmouth Farmers’ Market: Sea Smoke Trio, Nate Laban, Kenny Brother Trio, Dan Walker, Mike & Mike, and Bill Foley’s Acoustic Ramblings are still on tap to perform.
The Exeter and Portsmouth Farmers’ Markets, as well as Durham (Mondays), Hampton and Kingston (Tuesdays), and Dover (Wednesdays) are coordinated by Seacoast Growers’ Association, a state-registered nonprofit organization. For more information, including maps to each market and a complete list of all vendors, visit www.seacoastgrowers.org.