Farm Market set to open in Wilbraham

By SUZANNE McLAUGHLIN

07/25/2008- The Republican

WILBRAHAM - A weekly farmers' market is set to be staged in the parking lot of Hampden Bank at 2005 Boston Road, following endorsement from the Board of Selectmen.

The event is set to commence the week of Aug. 4.

Richard DeBonis, senior vice president and director of marketing for Hampden Bank, said this week that first priority will be given to local vendors. 
 
The market will be sponsored by the bank in cooperation with the Pioneer Valley Growers Cooperative, which has helped to establish markets in Northampton, Springfield and Holyoke.

The local market will be conducted each Wednesday in the bank parking lot from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

DeBonis said his bank's marketing department came up with the idea in order to promote community events.

"We want to help farmers move their local produce," he said. He said that Wednesdays are the quietest business days at the bank.

The Llewellyn Merrick Farm and the Green Acres Fruit Farm have expressed an interest in participating, DeBonis said.

Kathleen A. Smedberg, the owner of Green Acres, said she will be excited about selling her apples, peaches, grapes, peppers and tomatoes at the market. She said she participates in the Springfield market.

DeBonis said Merrick suggested that a better central location would be the Main Street area.

"We want to start on Boston Road because that is where the business traffic is," DeBonis told selectmen.

But he said that if the Boston Road market is successful, he would be interested in sponsoring an additional market in the town center.

Hampden Bank will make some tents available for the market, DeBonis said. He told selectmen that from five to 40 Pioneer Valley vendors would be expected to participate in the Boston Road event.