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Community Corner

Volunteers Gather to Discuss New Chappaqua Farmers Market

The new farmers market will utilize a system that relies heavily on volunteers.

Nearly 20 volunteers gathered Wednesday evening at New Castle Town Hall for an information session on the soon-to-be Chappaqua Farmers Market. The market will be located at the rotunda of the Chappaqua train station, and is slated to begin Saturday, Sept. 11 at 10:30 a.m. and run every Saturday through November.

"This is not just another market, but a market that builds on ideas of sustainability and community" said Cynthia Brennan to the group of volunteers. Brennan, a long-time local food advocate, is owner of TABLE Local Market in Bedford Hills and one of the market's organizers.

Unlike other farmer's markets, in which the farmer is typically responsible for staffing and running their own booth, this new market will offer the option for shared tables between farmers, as well as drop-off options. The reason for this, Brennan explained, is to encourage the participation of small-scale farmers who otherwise might not be able to spend a full Saturday at market.

That's where the volunteers come in.

Farmers who are unable to stay for the day will be able to drop their items off at the market, where a volunteer will take responsibility for managing and selling the items at the stand. Overalls and straw hats will not be required, as one of the meeting attendees jokingly asked, but volunteers will be expected to know something about the products they are selling.

Although this caused some anxiety among the volunteers, the organizers assured them that they will be well prepared. They are considering both training sessions at TABLE to acquaint volunteers with the vendors and products and a website with information and links to the various farmers.

The organizers also hope the market will be no-waste, meaning volunteers will be able to help bring leftover items to the food pantry. In addition, there will be an education outreach component to the market, and as organizer Nancy Oren Lyman explained, one of the key goals is to make "healthy fresh food accessible to all."

Volunteers came to Wednesday's meeting with many ideas. Questions from people ranged from the cost of the items to whether there will be free-range chickens for sale. The organizers emphasized, however, that this is something new and will begin slowly as they work through the pilot phase.

"This is going to be a work in progress, an ongoing project for all of us," said Lucia Maestro, the market manager.

But for most volunteers, they were just happy to be a part of this community-minded project to bring local food even closer to town.

For Chappaqua resident Joanne Knight, the decision to get involved was easy. As a nutrtitionist and member of the wellness advisory board to get better food into schools, "I'm all about this!" she declared.

"I'm interested in getting more activity and action in downtown Chappaqua," said Chappaqua resident and New Castle Sustainability Advisory Board member Dick Goldsmith, on why he's interested in volunteering.

With just over a week until the market opens, organizers are hoping to spread the word and firm up final commitments from the vendors. For more information, to sign up for the mailing list, or to volunteer, send an email to chappaquafarmersmarket@gmail.com.

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