The annual Farmers Market in Norwood will be opening early this year, but not as early as members had hoped.
Initially, market manager and farmer Shirley Robbins hoped to open the market today, but the spring weather hasn't fully cooperated. The opening was pushed back to next Tuesday to be safe.
"I know our customers and I didn't want to open if we didn't have a lot of stuff," said Robbins.
The market opened July 4 last year, which Robbins said worked out well since all the vendors were in midseason form and brought a wide variety of produce.
Robbins said this year the farmers hoped to open a few weeks early, primarily for strawberries and other early season produce. But Robbins said she didn't want to open too early if vendors didn't have enough produce to make it worthwhile.
Robbins said cold nights and a late start hampered crop growth early in the spring, but she said so far the growing season has been good.
"I think everything is finally starting to catch up," said Robbins. She said the market will again feature longtime participants Silvia Farms of Somerset and Keown Orchards of Sutton. Robbins said she hopes to have some new farmers as well, but won't know for sure until the market opens.
The market is entering its 12th year in Norwood and will again be located in the municipal parking lot off Nahatan Street behind the Apollo Function Hall.
For the past three years, town officials have discussed moving the market to a site that could generate more foot traffic to bolster other businesses, but Robbins and others have resisted. She said although the current location is tucked away and hard to find, it provides ample parking, and she said her customers are very loyal.
"We get the regular, hard-core crowd that comes every week and they know where to find us," said Robbins.
For nine years, the market was organized and run by the Federation of Massachusetts Farmers Markets. Three years ago, farmers decided to run it themselves, taking on added responsibilities like getting insurance, and doing their own promotion.
The market will be open Tuesdays from 1 to 6 p.m. through October.
Daily News staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or at bfalla@cnc.com
