Ashland Farmers Market’s Brings Variety, New Flavors to 10th Season
Mohamed Gobashi of Kabob House is one of the popular food vendors returning to Ashland Farmers Market for season 10.
(Photo/supplied)
By Cynthia Whitty
The Ashland Farmers Market (AFM) is celebrating its 10th season with an official opening on Saturday, June 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 125 Front St., on the green across from the Ashland Public Library. There is a new international flavor to this season’s vendor lineup, with plenty of variety and easy meals for busy families.
Although COVID restrictions will prevent eating at the market (masks will still be required by order of the Ashland Board of Health), vendors have adapted with new ways of taking home meals.
New this year is Lilac Hedge Farm, replacing Julie of Shady Pine Farm who is retiring, which will provide pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and eggs. Lilac Hedge is a large family-run farm of 350 acres, and plans to bring a variety of pasture-raised meat and poultry products.
Lilac Farm family member Susan D’Amico explains, “From the day an animal arrives or is born at our farm it is treated with the utmost respect and given 100 percent of our efforts to give it the best life possible. Every life has meaning, and we do whatever it takes to help an animal thrive and prosper. Our animals are never given growth hormones or steroids.”
Lilac Hedge will also bring Smith’s Country Cheese from a local Winchendon farmstead cheese producer. Smith Country Cheese makes handcrafted aged cheddar, Gouda, and hickory smoked Gouda, as well as a variety of flavored Gouda spreads.
Grizzly Ventures will offer a variety of packaged spice rubs. A new venture for an Ashland resident and chef, David “Sparky” Spatara has experience in the service industry and has taught cooking classes for all ages.
Pooja Vishal of Urban Spice World will bring ready-to-cook meal kits for busy families. The concept is ‘curry in a hurry’ as she creates dry Indian spice blends and explains how to use them.
Once a month, Cousins Maine Lobster Truck is coming for lunchtime with lobster rolls, tacos, grilled cheese, shrimp tacos, chowder and lobster bisque. After each monthly market, they will move to The Corner Spot for the afternoon.
Divya Raghavan Molloy makes vegetarian/vegan Indian food in her restaurant Sethji’s in Medfield and will bring her home-style Indian dishes to AFM. Molloy will offer a variety of pre-packaged meals to go, including chana masala, vegetable korma, chickpeas in coconut milk curry, vegetable samosas, chutneys, tapioca khichdi, and mango Lassis.
Returning food vendors include Mohamed Gobashi of Kabob House. Gobashi is returning from Egypt and will sell his traditional Mediterranean foods wrapped for take-home. Bali Marle will also return but with an entirely different product line of packaged Indonesian themed products, including spicy peanuts and spicy sunflower seeds.
Each week AFM will host two creative local artisans. Their products will range from woven textiles to heirloom flower seedlings, handcrafted wood signs to recycled “plarn” (plastic yarn), and always distinctive jewelry, pottery, candles, and soaps.
At the Market Manager’s tent, AFM will match the first $20 for SNAP. Healthy Incentive Program (HIP) benefits, providing free fresh produce for SNAP users, will be available at AFM produce vendors, Upswing Farm and Long Life Farm.
Visitors will have one entrance and exit again this year at the end of the town parking lot. Well-behaved dogs will be permitted. Visitors are encouraged to bring reusable bags; bags will also be on hand. For up-to-date vendor information and to sign up to receive a weekly email, visit the website, AshlandFarmersMarket.org.
(Photo/supplied)
By Cynthia Whitty
The Ashland Farmers Market (AFM) is celebrating its 10th season with an official opening on Saturday, June 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 125 Front St., on the green across from the Ashland Public Library. There is a new international flavor to this season’s vendor lineup, with plenty of variety and easy meals for busy families.
Although COVID restrictions will prevent eating at the market (masks will still be required by order of the Ashland Board of Health), vendors have adapted with new ways of taking home meals.
New this year is Lilac Hedge Farm, replacing Julie of Shady Pine Farm who is retiring, which will provide pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and eggs. Lilac Hedge is a large family-run farm of 350 acres, and plans to bring a variety of pasture-raised meat and poultry products.
Lilac Farm family member Susan D’Amico explains, “From the day an animal arrives or is born at our farm it is treated with the utmost respect and given 100 percent of our efforts to give it the best life possible. Every life has meaning, and we do whatever it takes to help an animal thrive and prosper. Our animals are never given growth hormones or steroids.”
Lilac Hedge will also bring Smith’s Country Cheese from a local Winchendon farmstead cheese producer. Smith Country Cheese makes handcrafted aged cheddar, Gouda, and hickory smoked Gouda, as well as a variety of flavored Gouda spreads.
Grizzly Ventures will offer a variety of packaged spice rubs. A new venture for an Ashland resident and chef, David “Sparky” Spatara has experience in the service industry and has taught cooking classes for all ages.
Pooja Vishal of Urban Spice World will bring ready-to-cook meal kits for busy families. The concept is ‘curry in a hurry’ as she creates dry Indian spice blends and explains how to use them.
Once a month, Cousins Maine Lobster Truck is coming for lunchtime with lobster rolls, tacos, grilled cheese, shrimp tacos, chowder and lobster bisque. After each monthly market, they will move to The Corner Spot for the afternoon.
Divya Raghavan Molloy makes vegetarian/vegan Indian food in her restaurant Sethji’s in Medfield and will bring her home-style Indian dishes to AFM. Molloy will offer a variety of pre-packaged meals to go, including chana masala, vegetable korma, chickpeas in coconut milk curry, vegetable samosas, chutneys, tapioca khichdi, and mango Lassis.
Returning food vendors include Mohamed Gobashi of Kabob House. Gobashi is returning from Egypt and will sell his traditional Mediterranean foods wrapped for take-home. Bali Marle will also return but with an entirely different product line of packaged Indonesian themed products, including spicy peanuts and spicy sunflower seeds.
Each week AFM will host two creative local artisans. Their products will range from woven textiles to heirloom flower seedlings, handcrafted wood signs to recycled “plarn” (plastic yarn), and always distinctive jewelry, pottery, candles, and soaps.
At the Market Manager’s tent, AFM will match the first $20 for SNAP. Healthy Incentive Program (HIP) benefits, providing free fresh produce for SNAP users, will be available at AFM produce vendors, Upswing Farm and Long Life Farm.
Visitors will have one entrance and exit again this year at the end of the town parking lot. Well-behaved dogs will be permitted. Visitors are encouraged to bring reusable bags; bags will also be on hand. For up-to-date vendor information and to sign up to receive a weekly email, visit the website, AshlandFarmersMarket.org.
