Farmers market produces for Saugus

SAUGUS – The Saugus Farmers Market is back for another season at Anna Parker Playground, behind the fire station. And, says market manager Peter Rossetti, it’s more than simply a place to buy produce.This is the third year at the market’s new location, and it’ll be on the site every Tuesday from now until the middle of October, when frost prevents many crops from growing, according to Rossetti.Saugus has annually hosted the farmers market for “more than 15 years,” said Rossetti. For as long as the market has been around, Cider Hill Farm has been providing produce for the events.”It’s like old home week,” said Rossetti, “People spend more time talking about families and what’s going on than shopping for food.”It’s a good place to meet neighbors and friends,” he said. “When the weather is nice, it’s a nice experience.”Though other farmers also attend the events, Cider Hill Farm has consistently provided fruit and vegetables for the market. The farm is located in Amesbury and owned by Glenn and Karen Cook.”They’re very nice people,” Rossetti said. “They’ve been doing it as long as we’ve had the market.”Cider Hill is a family owned farm which was started in 1978 when Ed and Eleanor Cook wanted to start and apple farm. The couple bought Battis Dairy Farm. Soon after, their son Glenn and his wife Karen bought Vedrani Poultry Farm, which was adjacent to his parents.Three generations of the Cook family now work together on the 145-acre farm.”The farmer has fruits and vegetables and baked goods,” he said. “We have someone who brings fish, haddock, scallops.”The experience at the farmers market isn’t about simply buying produce. The farmers take the time to talk to their customers about what they are buying, he said.”If you have questions about how the food should be cooked, they will talk to you about it,” he said. “The produce is fresh. It’s picked that day. Prices are very reasonable.”The farmers market can be quite busy, so Rossetti recommends getting there early. “It usually has a turnout of about 250 people throughout the course of the day,” he said.”Occasionally there are lines when checking out. If you get there earlier, there will be less of a line but if you go later, there won’t be as good of a selection.””We tend to have entertainment too,” said Rossetti. “We have a guy who comes down and plays his guitar and sings.”As successful as the market has been, Rossetti says he hopes it will expand further. “We’re trying to see if we can find another farmer,” he said. “It’s hard because we have them on Tuesdays.”The Saugus Farmers Market runs every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.