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Farmers markets offer locally grown products

Strawberries are in season, and you can buy berries wrapped in plastic that have been flown here from California.

But why would you want to?

Not when this area is overflowing with locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as cheeses, wine, flowers, herbs and breads.

Farmers markets are opening this week and next, and there are four local markets this year – Amherst’s is taking a year off.

Milford’s 38th season will begin June 13, operating every Saturday from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Tractor Supply parking lot in Granite Town Plaza.

Here are some of its confirmed vendors:

? Aquaponics Unlimited: Tilapia, vegetables, eggs, plants and flowers, all naturally grown in an aquaponics system without the use of herbicides or pesticides.

? Butternut Farm, one of the founders of this market 38 years ago: Vegetables and eggs, and is also Milford Goat Dairy, producing raw goat milk, chevre, cheddar, and soap.

? Country Dreams Farm: Wide assortment of fruits and vegetables, including heirlooms and sweet corn.

? Enchanted Harvest: Plants, flowers and eggs.

? Favorite Things Baked Goods: Cookies, scones, artisan breads.

? Gehling’s Gourmet Goodies (G3 Bakery): Fudge, breads, cookies and desserts.

? Hilltop Farm: Vegetables and a variety of baking mixes for cornbread, muffins and brownies, as well as spice mixes.

? Ledgetop Farm, the other founder of the Milford market 38 years ago: Organically grown vegetables, fruits, berries and eggs.

? Lilac Valley Farm: Certified organically grown vegetables, eggs and skin care products.

? Paradise Farm: Grass-fed beef and lamb, pasture-raised pork, goat-meat sausage, all-natural poultry, duck, eggs, all-natural goat milk and goat milk soap, organically grown fruits and berries, raw honey, beeswax candles and creams, maple syrup, jams, soft wool sheep pelts and all-natural, nondyed yarn made from the fleece of Romney sheep.

? Stormy Moon Vocational Developmental Farm: Eggs, jams, jellies, salsa, breads and canned goods.

New to the market will be:

? Temple-Wilton Cooperative Farm: Artisanal cheeses made on the farm with organic milk from its own cows.

? Valentine & Sons Seed Co.: Fresh homemade spiced apple and pumpkin doughnuts fried at the market, nonsuet wild bird feeders that are bear and squirrel resistant, all-natural Finicky Fowl Poultry Treats, locally and organically grown heirloom sweet gherkin pickles, and locally grown spiced apple rings.

Guest vendors this year include:

? King Street Vineyards: Fruit trees, grapevines, nursery stock and grapes in season.

? Laurel Hill Jams and Jellies: Fruit and wine jams and jellies made with locally sourced fruits and other products when available.

? Pawsitively Purrfect Bakery: Baked goods.

For more information about the Milford market, call Wayne at 345-0860.

Amherst

Though the Amherst Farmers Market won’t open this year, there is a farmers market on Fridays at St. Paul Church on Craftsman Lane next to Joey’s Diner. The market is open from 3-7 p.m. Some farmers will leave early, and some vendors will arrive later; call or check the Facebook page for Farmers Market @ St Paul Amherst.

Among the items for sale are baked goods, crafts, eggs, vegetables, honey, jams, meats, prepared foods and soap.

For more information, call 234-0492.

Merrimack

Every Wednesday from June 17 until Oct. 14, the Merrimack Farmers Market will take place at 526 Daniel Webster Highway on property owned by Vault Storage. It will be open from 3-6 p.m. and will features the products of many of Merrimack’s local farms.

Although it’s early in the season, manager Bob McCabe said there should be a variety of vegetables. He said he expects early greens, potatoes and onions, various lettuces, radishes, turnips “and whatever the various farmers represented have coming out of their greenhouses from a late winter.

“We also expect to have a selection of meats, poultry and pork from our various meat vendors.”

Among the vendors will be:

? D.J. Honey with local honey and goodies.

? The Yankee Cheeseman with its selection of cheeses.

? Three bakers, including one that will be gluten free.

? Granola from the Happy Cat and Groovin’ Granola.

? Dog treats from Gunther’s Goodies.

? Jams and jellies from Laurel Hill.

? Lamb products from Far View Farm.

? Vegetables, annuals and flowering plants from The Amazing Flower Farm.

? Kettle corn from Ummm-Pop.

? Blackwater Mustard with blended mustards.

? Natural pain therapy from Don and Joy Grant.

? KRM Chocolates with homemade gourmet chocolates.

? Fresh Start Farm, which is looking for weekly CSA customers with an on-site pickup.

For more information, email merrimackfarmersmarket@gmail.com or call McCabe at 759-2737.

Bedford

The Bedford Farmers Market is from 3-6 p.m. Tuesdays beginning June 16 with fruits, vegetables, cheeses, wine, berries, flowers, plants, herbs, soaps, fish, baked goods, breads and specialty coffee.

Sanders Fish Market will be there, along with Paradise Farm of Lyndeborough, Hungry Bear Farm of Wilton, Alberto’s Homemade Cuisine of Derry, Apple Hill Farm of Concord, and J.L. Sweets and Copper Beech Winery, both from Hooksett.

The market is in the St. Elizabeth Seton Parish parking lot, 190 Meetinghouse Road. For more information, write to Bedford Farmers Market, P.O. Box 10047, Bedford, NH 03110; email bedfordfarmersmarketnh@gmail.com; or call the new manaager, Jane Beaulieu, at 203-8440.

Wilton

The Wilton Farmers Market opened Tuesday, June 9, with new hours and a new location. The market will be open from 3-7 p.m. in the parking lot at the north end of Main Street opposite Wilton’s traffic dummy.

Confirmed vendors include:

? Hungry Bear Farm in Wilton: Certified naturally grown vegetables, herbs and berries, hard-neck garlic and scapes, spinach, peas, asparagus, strawberries, carrots, radishes, green and wax beans, kale, Swiss chard and many other vegetables.

? Sleepy Brook Farm of New Ipswich: The farm raises pigs and chickens.

? Ledge Top Farm of Wilton: Organically grown vegetables, fruits, berries and eggs.

There will likely be crafters and musicians, as well.

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100 or kcleveland@cabinet.com.