Marion farmers market returns for the summer season
Fresh fruits and vegetables spill out at the Washburn Park farmers' market in Marion. Photos by Mari Huglin 
Finn Foy, age 3, holds up a large cookie.
The farmers market usually has live music accompanying shoppers.
Greens are for sale at multiple booths. 
Fresh rhubarb sits ready for the taking. 
One woman sells bread and spices at her booth. 
Shopper look closely before making purchases. 
A plethora of flowers and greens overtakes one tent. 
Cherry tomatoes that can be planted were for sale. 
Residents buy goods from a Rochester farm.
Fresh fruits and vegetables spill out at the Washburn Park farmers' market in Marion. Photos by Mari Huglin
Finn Foy, age 3, holds up a large cookie.
The farmers market usually has live music accompanying shoppers.
Greens are for sale at multiple booths.
Fresh rhubarb sits ready for the taking.
One woman sells bread and spices at her booth.
Shopper look closely before making purchases.
A plethora of flowers and greens overtakes one tent.
Cherry tomatoes that can be planted were for sale.
Residents buy goods from a Rochester farm.
MARION — A rainbow of vegetables, the smell of fresh sourdough and glass jars of kombucha and pickled items in every color decorated Washburn Park.
Residents and farmers descend upon Washburn Park every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. to share their bounty with the South Coast.
Having only operated for one year previously, director Meredith Mattson-Days of Marion says the response to the Washburn Park farmers’ market has been fantastic.
“I think it's been great for the town to have a place to kind of come to,” Mattson-Days said. “There's not many places in town that have events put on on a weekly basis, and I find a lot of regulars coming, which is really nice to see.”
She and her husband, Anthony Days, organize and operate the weekly event as part of the Washburn Memorial Trust that owns half of the park.
They run the market to support the trust and upkeep of the Washburn Park buildings and land, but also to build community.
“I thought a farmers market would be a good way to kind of bring in money, also good for the community, something that the town really needed,” Mattson-Days said.
The director said she enjoys the weekly routine of coming to the market, seeing the new goods being sold and meeting members of the community.
David Sanders of Rochester is a regular vendor representing his farm, Teal Farm, with his wife. They do not have any employees and run their farm completely alone.
Sanders said farmer’s markets are so important to support food security and quality. He explained during the COVID-19 pandemic, people were unable to buy food at the grocery store, so farmers’ markets became a great option.
“Farmers markets really help all the smaller local farms because then [farmers] can bring their crop straight to the consumer,” Sanders said. “You're getting it immediately out of the ground, so the quality is better, it's got better nutritional value because it's not harvested a week in advance.”
He also said markets build community between vendors and their customers. Sanders said he can recommend what to buy, cook or even recommend other vendors when customers chat with him.
He also knows what seeds to buy and what produce to have ready for the next year depending on consumer trends.
Cherie Allen of Wareham said she came to the farmers market to get outside, get some fresh air and support local vendors.
She said she likes to look at all the natural, homemade products and buys whatever “inspires” her.
The Marion farmers’ market usually has live music and food carts which encourages people to stay around and chat in a nice environment that Allen enjoys.
The Wareham resident said she likes to support the local farmers and artisans because it helps develop community.
“It's giving back to your community so it's part of being someone that lives in the area and you're supporting your community,” Allen said.
