RUMFORD — Though autumn is right around the corner and temperatures continue to drop, several local vendors keep setting up their canopy tents in the parking lot adjacent to Exchange Street to participate in the River Valley Farmers’ Market.

Last week, seven vendors, some offering food and others offering crafts and jewelry, participated in the market, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. every Friday from May to October.

According to Tim Carter, whose son runs Middle Intervale Farm in Bethel, it was a good number of vendors for a late summer day.

Carter, who was selling corn from the back of his truck, said it was his “third or fourth year” participating in the market and he expects to continue setting up a tent until October.

“We’ve still got some really good sweet corn to sell,” Carter said. “Hopefully soon, we’ll start getting some of that winter squash and pumpkins to sell.”

Mickey Sousa, who handcrafts jewelry, said she has faithfully set up a tent every week at the market.

“I love seeing all the tables set up and all the work that goes into doing the Farmers’ Market,” Sousa said. “It’s great to get people from the community coming out to buy local foods and crafts.”

Sousa’s table had handmade jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets and earrings. There were even tiny bracelets made for small children, which Sousa said has come in handy throughout the summer.

“Sometimes, the children come in with their parents and they always point out different things that they want,” Sousa said, “so I started making smaller bracelets to give to kids if they want one.”

Some of the jewelry takes around four hours to craft, according to Sousa, though some pieces take as little as an hour and a half.

“There’s a certain pattern and repetition to it that I love,” Sousa said.

One of the aspects of the Farmers’ Market that Sousa said she enjoys is that sellers are able to accept Women, Infants and Children nutrition program checks, as well as food stamps.

“It allows us to promote healthy foods in the area,” Sousa explained. “People are able to come and use their checks and (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards to purchase local foods, which is a huge thing.”

Next to Sousa’s tent, Kathy Boothby, another Rumford resident, offered more handcrafted products, including wooden pens, quilts and coasters decorated with pictures.

Farther down the line was Jessica Roy, who runs Roy’s Family Farm with her husband, Matthew, and her children.

Roy said it’s her fifth year participating in the Farmers’ Market, and this year was particularly exciting because she received a grant for her line of her bath and body products. As a result, many of her items are being sold at Simply the Best Boutique in Mexico and The Yellow Ribbon gift and accessories store of Bridgewater, Mass.

“The grant came through a vocational rehabilitation program that aims to help the blind and visually impaired,” Roy said. She acknowledged she had started to go blind, which helped her qualify for the grant.

“I love farming,” Roy said. “There’s nothing like picking vegetables in the garden when the weather is nice. Plus, it’s really good for my children. My daughter is like my walking advertiser.”

Roy laughed and added, “She’s always walking up to people and saying that our vegetables have no chemicals in them and how proud we are of that.”

No View Farm and Bakery, run by resident Annette Roy-Marin on South Rumford Road, had a tent set up next to Roy, offering a vegetables, both grown and pickled, baked goods and herbs.

The River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition had a booth set up and run by employee Eliza Cormier, who was offering samples of fruits and vegetables.

One of the farmers who had been participating the longest in the Farmer’s Market, Stan Haynes of Clay Hill Farm, had parked his truck next to Carter’s, where he was selling fruits, vegetables and beef.

Haynes said the market started off slow but is taking off.

“It’s slowly catching on, which is good for the community,” Haynes said.

The Farmers’ Market is taking applications for new vendors. Contact President Jessica Roy at roysfamilyfarm85@yahoo.com, or call 357-1304 for more information about the market.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com

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