Farmer's market may begin weekly schedule on July 7
BY PETER B. BRACE INDEPENDENT WRITER
If Wendy Fereshetian and Heather Leisher-Coffin can get the necessary permits in time, they will hold the inaugural Nantucket Farmer's and Artisan's market on July 7.

Fereshetian and later in the process, Leisher-Coffin, have been cultivating support for their idea of starting up a farmer's market for the last two years, believing that smaller farmers, home gardeners, craftspeople, beekeepers, and poultry and livestock farmers needed a venue for a weekly confab of shoptalk and to share their products with the community.

"For me, I got involved with it thinking about local and sustainable practices and how there's no local organic produce that you can buy on a regular basis, and I really wanted to help fill that gap," said Leisher- Coffin.

At the market, that will operate in front of Nantucket High School between the main entrance and the drop-off and pick-up area, there will be 15 vendors on its first day including those selling jewelry, honey, eggs, jams, jellies, baked goods and of course, fruit and vegetables. The market will run Saturdays from the first weekend in July through the middle of October.

"Moors End Farm is involved and also a lot of backyard gardeners," Leisher-Coffin. "Some people specialize in tomatoes, some people specialize in fruit and some people have everything; we're just putting them all together."

Leisher-Coffin and Fereshetian invited Bartlett's Ocean View Farm; however, although they were supportive of the farmer's market, Bartlett's could not promise they would be there right off.

Those who do participate, must commit to four- eight- or 12-week-ormore periods at the market and pay an annual fee that decreases as more vendors join the market. Each vendor also pays a stall rental fee for their space at the market, the proceeds of which goes toward the junior class at Nantucket High School. This mutually beneficial arrangement allows Leisher-Coffin and Fereshetian to use school property for both fundraising for the students and helping out local growers and craftspeople. The venders can then keep whatever they make after paying the two fees. "My vision is this is going to be a community hub of activity, growers getting together exchanging ideas, exchanging their produce; just a really positive community experience,"

said Leisher-Coffin. I