Should Acushnet’s Farmers’ Market Offer More Than Just Local Food?

The Stone Bridge Farm on Leonard Street is the towns only licensed farmers’ market and Joanne and Scott Harding run it.

According to an article in The Standard Times, the farm has become a late-developing issue in the current race for a town selectman. Candidate, Les Dakin made a statement in last week’s candidates’ night, responding to a question about agri-tourism and said that markets should stick to locally produced fruit, vegetables and prepared foods such as cakes and pies. He objects to selling jewelry, manufactured goods and foodstuffs, “trucked in from somewhere.”  Some agree, they would rather know that everything they purchase at farmers' market is completely local.  The town election is Monday.

While farmers’ markets are somewhat regulated in Massachusetts, it’s typically left to the town to make sure the food vendors are certified and held to state standards.

Joanne Harding says that the things sold there are local and that it’s something they believe strongly in.

The farmers’ market reopens for the season on June 4^th and will be open every Saturday from 9-1.

What are your thoughts?