Fresh produce goes on sale

By Ken Ross

05/05/2008- The Republican

HOLYOKE - Seated behind several rows of plants on display in the middle of High Street yesterday, John P. Spineti talked about how the weekly farmers market got started 29 years ago.

When the market began in August 1979, it was open on Thursdays and located on Chestnut Street. Initially, the farmers mainly sold vegetables. And what was the response?

"Business was so brisk, you didn't even have to bag the produce," Spineti said. "It was a situation where you dropped the vegetables off the truck" and people bagged the vegetables themselves.

The market is still run on Thursdays and runs from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. But the location of the market has changed.

For the past five years, the city has shut down High Street between Suffolk and Dwight streets and held the market outside City Hall.

Mayor Michael J. Sullivan said the city helped organize the market's move to High Street in an effort to spur business.

"Sales dropped ... and we felt we needed to be more involved," Sullivan said.

Yesterday, business was a little slow when the weekly market opened for the season. But Spineti wasn't worried. As the weather warms up, he expects business to pick up. Plus there are all the people who work downtown who frequently shop at the weekly market.

"That really brings in the customers," Spineti said, referring to downtown employees.

One worker who came to shop was Ivia Martinez, of Springfield. Holding two ivy plants she bought from Mary's Greenhouse, of Westfield, Martinez said yesterday was the first time she had ever shopped at the farmers market.

"I think it's really nice," she said. "Everybody who works around here can browse around and buy plants."

Yolanda Fontanez, of Holyoke, was also pleased to be able to shop downtown yesterday. She and her husband, Alexander, bought tomatoes from a stand run by Gooseberry Farms in West Springfield.

"I like it," Fontanez said. "It's fresh," she added, referring to the vegetables.

And Gooseberry Farms employee Susan F. Muncy, of West Springfield, said she expects business to pick up as the growing season peaks.

"Usually in the summer, when the fruits come out, we sell a lot of vegetables," she said, adding, "It's cheaper than the grocery store, and it's fresher."

A total of 14 farmers have so far signed up for the weekly market this year, Sullivan said.

"It's just good to have them back," he added. "It's a communal event."