Jane Hurst woke up last Saturday morning with a challenge: Think way back to last summer and collect all of the items necessary to conduct business at the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market, the first of the season.
Bob Daniels sat on the edge of his red pickup truck, a bounty of flowers, kale, potatoes and rhubarb spread out on the table in front of him, waiting for the market bell to ring. As one of the longest-selling vendors at the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market, Mr. Daniels has been waiting for the opening bell every June for the past 36 years.
The general impression is that the West Tisbury Farmers’ Market is having a slow start to its 35th year. Farmers are weathering a recession as well as the persistent rains which are dampening the enthusiasm of crops and shoppers alike.
Nailing down anything more specific, though, is hard work. There are 40 vendors at the West Tisbury market and as many prognostications about the coming season. The market opens from 9 to noon tomorrow for its second Wednesday, and for the fourth Saturday, July 4.