Blue Back Farmers’ Market Opens for Inaugural Season in West Hartford
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Mayor Shari Cantor cuts the baguette to officially open the Blue Back Farmers' Market at West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor cut a baguette to inaugurate West Hartford’s new Sunday farmers market.
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton
Rather than a ribbon cutting, Mayor Shari Cantor more appropriately sliced a fresh baguette Sunday morning, officially opening West Hartford’s newest farmers market, the Blue Back Farmers’ Market, which will be held each Sunday from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Town Hall.
Eager visitors began arriving well before the 10 a.m. official opening, and tried to refrain from drooling as they gazed at the colorful array of fresh local produce, organic salsas and hummus, Connecticut-caught seafood, baked goods, farm-fresh eggs, and much more as they waited for the market to begin.
Blue Back Farmers’ Market Board member Jackie Johnson and Hartford Baking Company owner Scott Kluger – who had baked the 3-foot baguette specially for the occasion – held it in place as the mayor did the honors, also surrounded by Board member Jonathan Janeway of Sweet Acre Farm, and market co-founder Scott Franklin. Mary Collins, Franklin’s wife and partner in the market, was unable to attend due to illness, but was there in spirit, he said.
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
With the tagline “Come for the food, stay for the fun,” the Blue Back Farmers’ Market is intended to be more than just a place to purchase food and crafts, will instead be a “‘third space’ – not home, not work – where you can feel you’re part of the community,” Franklin and Collins said previously, and will feature a line-up of specialty events and cultural activities to keep people lingering long after they purchase their lettuce, and coming back weekly.
On day one, Jim Lenn entertained market-goers with acoustic guitar, and the chef from Artisan at the Delmar Hotel shared samples, recipes, and preparation tips for several delicious gazpachos.
Hundreds of people attended the farmers market on opening day, departing with smiles and a rainbow of produce and other items.
Other planned events on the first day included a Story Exchange led by the Central Connecticut State University Gerontology Program. Those ages 60 and older were invited to sign up to share their personal stories to become part of a state archive.
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23. A full calendar of activities can be found on the website www.bluebackfarmersmarket.org, and you can also read and subscribe to the monthly newsletter, “Gatherings.”
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Blue Back Farmers’ Market will be open Sundays through Oct. 23, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of West Hartford Town Hall. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
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