Rehoboth Farmers Market

Dear Rehoboth Residents:

The Rehoboth Agricultural Committee, which meets on the 1st Thursday of every month at 730 PM at the Town Hall discussed their views on the Farmers Market in October 2017. The following list of bulleted items is what they decided.

"The Ag Com discussed several factors affecting the future of the Farmers Market:

•The marker will need to find a new location due to the anticipated development of senior housing at the Anawan School.

•Additional Sunday markets are now operating in the area

•All the small markets seem to be struggling

•Rehoboth has not been successful in attracting more than one vendor willing to participate on a weekly basis through the season

•Due to the historically low vendor participation, and the anticipated unavailability of the Anawan School site, the Ag Com voted to suspend the Sunday Farmers' Market. Five in favor; one abstention..."

Counterpoints to the previous are as follows and are shared by many.

•In regards to bullet 1. The proposed development should not inhibit the present location of the Farmers Market at the Anawan School. The developer's shovel has not yet touched the soil. Oakdale Farms has offered to move their stand to the other side of the Senior Center or any other location in town. Also, Oakdale Farms does the brunt of the work and started the Farmers Market in 2004 and has faithfully served our community every year since. Communities Supporting Agriculture (CSA) members have also been picking up their produce for the past ten years there.

•In regard to bullet 2. Residents of Rehoboth enjoy the convenience of our own Farmers Market; as many are concerned with the economy of fuel and time. This Farmers Market enjoys the support of our community.

•In regards to bullet 3. This is an opinion and not based on fact.

•In regard to bullet 4. Contrary to this statement, there are participating vendors that sell honey, alpaca wear, and flowers. Is the Ag Com taking attendance on the vendors and does it matter if the other vendors are consistent? There are many citizens in the town of Rehoboth who take pride in their Farmers Market.

•In regard to bullet 5. How does the Ag Com know this has been "historically low" vendor participation since they do not keep records?

The Ag Com suggested that if you care about the Rehoboth Farmers Market, in a right to farm community, please, as the Ag Com suggested, contact the Rehoboth Town Clerk Laura Schwall at 508-252-6502 x3110 OR press 6 at the town hall phone number main menu.

If you would like to be a vendor at the Rehoboth Farmers Market, please call the Town Clerk and ask for an application.

Lastly, we pride ourselves on being a right to farm town. What is a right to farm community without a Farmers Market?

Respectfully,

Staff at Oakdale Farms