HAVERHILL — The Haverhill Farmers Market — now in its 31st year — opens Saturday with as many as 10 new vendors, including a Topsfield farm selling its own goat milk cheeses.
This year organizers also will schedule weekly craft demonstrations and musical performances.
There will be a wider range of locally made, grown or raised products including eggs, herbs and vegetables, in-season fruits, ice cream, honey, blueberries, baked goods, pottery and handcrafted soap products.
"This is going to be a big deal," said Michael LaBonte, a member of Team Haverhill's farmers market steering committee, the driving force behind expanding the market. "What we're aiming for is a thriving farmers market and a place for the whole family. We think that people will want to stick around and enjoy the market as there will be more to do."
The Haverhill Farmers Market began in 1978 with 13 local farm owners and backyard farmers, including Wally Lesiczka and his wife, Stephanie, selling their locally grown fruits and vegetables on Bailey Boulevard, next to GAR Park.
Over the years many of those local farms faded away and for the last five years it's just been the Lesiczkas, along with the late summer addition of Fay's Farm, an apple and peach farm on Amesbury Line Road.
Stephanie Lesiczka, who runs the stand and is the market master for the Haverhill Farmers Market Association, along with Team Haverhill member Kate Martin, addressed the City Council on Tuesday and was given permission to operate the expanded market on Bailey Boulevard.
"The farmers market really adds to the quality of life in Haverhill," City Council President Michael Hart said. "It's fantastic and it is situated close to the downtown, where we have so much development that people can take advantage of it. And what was pointed out was that many elderly live in the area and can walk to the market. I can't wait for the tomatoes to come in season."
Martin said the effort to recruit more vendors continues and that it does take time as each must obtain a certificate of insurance.
The goat cheese will be sold by Valley View Farm in Topsfield, which is operated by Elizabeth and Peter Mulholland and Elizabeth's mother, Mary Brown.
Elizabeth Mulholland said her family's dairy produces around 5,000 pounds of cheese per year, most of which is made from milk they obtain from goats they raise.
"It is a fresh-style 'chevre,' which simply means goat cheese in French," she said. "It's a creamy cheese you can spread on crackers, toss into your salad or cook with it."
Valley View Chevre, a soft, fresh goat milk cheese comes in plain, cracked black pepper, roasted garlic, sun dried tomato and basil, dill, herb, chive and chipotle pepper.
Valley View Farm also produces a Greek-style feta cheese made from goat milk, a goat milk Camembert called New Meadows, and a mixed milk cheese called Harmony, which is half goat milk and half Jersey cow milk purchased from Appleton Farms in Ipswich.
For details about the Haverhill Farmers Market visit online at www.haverhillfarmersmarket.org.
Haverhill Farmers Market
Open Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: At the edge of GAR Park, along Bailey Boulevard
Motto: "Seller made, seller grown"
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