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06/17/2015 12:00 AMA community with an undeniably strong agricultural heritage, Killingworth was one of the only local towns without a farmers’ market—until now. The newest addition to the array of farmers’ markets in the area is the Parmelee Farm Market in Killingworth.
For this first year, it will open monthly from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. on the following Saturdays: July 11, Aug. 8, and Sept. 12. The market welcomed visitors for the first time on June 13.
The Parmelee Farm Market (held at the farm at 465 Route 81) will become an annual event should it be a success in its inaugural season. And on June 13, the first market of the season was a success indeed, according to Karen Milano, market coordinator and committee member of the Parmelee Farm Steering Committee.
The long list of vendors includes many seasoned marketers like Maple Breeze Farm, Chatfield Mushrooms, Wellstone Farm, Frank Andrews Pizza Truck, Andies Cookies, and Nora Cupcakes, among others.
“There will be a lot of great vendors, a lot of new ones, a lot from Killingworth,” said Susan Hotkowski, another market coordinator.
Produce, sweet treats, poultry, breads and crafts aren’t all the Parmelee Farm Market will offer to visitors.
“Currently we also welcome local nonprofits and several are setting up activity tables for kids. The Haddam Killingworth Rotary Club will have an Amber Alert Registration station at our June event and the Arts Center of Killingworth is planning an activity table for each market,” said Milano. “This month it’s bubble art; next month will be wire sea-glass and jewelry making. We’ve also got a hula-hoop and Bubbles station free to the young and young at heart.”
All proceeds from the vendor fees will be held by the town in the Parmelee Farm Fund, as Milano explained. That fund will be used to help repair buildings and perform maintenance on the property as well.
Holding the market on a monthly basis will allow for a sort of trial year, according to Hotkowski. Complicating scheduling, the Parmelee Farm is often rented out for weddings on Saturdays when the market will be held. Starting small, like a prototype, is often a good idea for farmer’s markets since success depends on many factors, Hotkowski explained.
Milano explained the circumstances of the market and Parmelee Farm further.
“Parmelee Farm was a vine-covered, all-but-abandoned town owned property that a few people thought had real potential,” said Milano. “With many very generous volunteers of time, labor, and monetary donations, the farm has come together with the steering committee’s goal of becoming a gathering place for generations to come.
“It’s amazing what has been accomplished in approximately seven years,” Milano continued.
Milano noted that the Farm Market was one of her personal goals for the improvement and expansion of the Parmelee Farm property.
“This year with the completion of the pavilion by some generous volunteers, donors, and the Lions Club, we had the space to do it,” said Milano.
For more information, visit www.parmeleefarmmarket.org or www.parmeleefarm.org.