Officials Show Interest in Farmers Market

Come April 2012, the may be home to the first ever Westwood Farmers Market.

The market, which would comprise about five vendors, between Cottage Street and Nahatan Street, where it has been for about 17 years, according to Westwood Economic Development Officer Chris McKeown.

But the group of vendors, which wishes to stay together, has been looking to relocate, and has expressed interested in various areas in Westwood, said McKeown, who explained the situation to the Board of Selectmen Monday night.

The Farmers Market would be stationed in the rear of the Westwood Senior Center parking lot and open from about 1 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, starting in April 2012 and running through October.

While there are programs that run at the Senior Center on Tuesdays, there is enough space in the lot to withstand patrons of the center and customers of the market at the same time, McKeown said.

The only issue, he added, would be with any fans parking at the Senior Center for sporting events during the spring and fall months, which they are not allowed to do anyway. Extra patrol for the lot would then be needed to deal with parking violators.

The Selectmen gave their support on the matter, saying the group of vendors seems to work well together in Norwood, and they'd be happy to welcome them to Westwood.

"It is a good group, and what they have are three vegetable/produce-type stands, one baker selling breads and scones, and another truck that sells fish," said Selectmen Clerk Nancy Hyde, who frequents the Norwood market.

McKeown said he planned on speaking with Norwood General Manager John Carroll more about the move, so as to avoid any conflict.

"I think it'd be worth while one more time to reach out to Norwood and to talk to them," McKeown said. "If they're leaving anyway, we'd be happy to welcome them, but we also don't want there to be an issue between the two towns."

The vendors involved in the market, meanwhile, have expressed sincere interest in taking root in Westwood.

"They're excited about it," McKeown said. "All parties want to pursue it and make it work, and I think at this point it's a decision of whether the Town wants to go through it. The Council on Aging is interested in doing it."

Officials plan to work out the logistics of having the market, and Hyde said she would like to see parameters set so that if more vendors were to be added, they would need approval from the Selectmen first.