Milford Farmers Market Draws a Big Crowd on Opening Day, Vendors Sell Out

Milford likes zucchini bread, and eggplant, and calzones, Italian bread, and honey, sweet corn, and beets. These were just some of the products that were snapped up by customers at the first Milford Farmers Market, where most vendors had sold out their products by noon.

More vendors will be selling next week. The market received many new applications Saturday. And the farm and vendors that sold this week said they would be sure to come with more next Saturday, as much as 50 percent more.

The people arrived early Saturday, in a steady pace all morning, and by 11:30 a.m., when the crowd started to taper off, a whole lot of empty space was showing on the market tables.

"They got wiped out," said organizer John Tehan, of the vendors.

At D'Allesandro Farm's table, two small baskets of green peppers and about a dozen Japanese eggplant were all that was left by noon. The market had customers waiting at 8:30 a.m., the organizers reported, a half-hour before the official opening.

David Morganelli, an organizer, estimated that at least 500 people came through on opening day. He wasn't sure what to expect, he said, and the vendors, too, weren't sure how much to bring. "It was way more than we expected," Morganelli said.

Several vendors said they would almost double the amount of produce and other items that they brought this week, when they return next Saturday morning.

At that time, the market also is expected to have two or three produce farms with tables. This week, D'Allesandro was the only farmer. Its produce went quickly, with eggplant the first to go. The third-generation family farm is in Warren, RI. 

Buzz 10 Honey, a bee-keeping business based in Medway, sent someone back to get more honey when it became clear the crowd would be large. By early afternoon, she had depleted boxes of honey, but was still selling it, and giving out free samples, too.

Oliva's brought calzones, fresh Italian bread and other items, including jars of pepper poppers. By the end of the market, they had five jars of the peppers left, and that was it.

Julie Gross, owner of Julie's Z Breads, a Medway baker, laughed when asked about her two empty tables at noon. The Milford customers snapped up every single loaf she brought. Next week, she said, she'll know and bring more.