The public will soon be able to find fresh vegetables, fruits, baked goods and a little entertainment every Wednesday in the Dedham Square parking lot on Eastern Avenue.
Beginning July 9 from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., several local farms and Big Sky Bread, a Newton bakery, will sell their goods at a farmers market that will run through October.
With the support of Dedham Square Circle, organizer Louise Reohr has lined up vendors, educational demonstrations, music, dancing and other activities to draw residents to what she hopes will be an annual market.
"I hope it will be something to create buzz downtown, particularly in that lot which is a very sad and sorry affair," said the Dedham mom.
Amy Haelsen, executive director of Dedham Square Circle, said hosting a farmers market has long been among the community group's 101 ideas to enliven the square.
"The reason that Dedham Square Circle embraced the idea is that farmers markets nationwide tend to attract more people to the downtown and as a result people ... will visit the shops and the businesses," she said.
The participating farms are C.N. Smith Farm in East Bridgewater, Neighborhood Farm in Needham, and Freitas Farm in Middleborough.
"Because there is such an interest in local produce - almost every town has a farmer's market - it's actually really competitive," Reohr said. "You have to sort of go on bended knee."
Reohr pitched the idea to Dedham Square Circle last fall and after getting positive feedback from about 150 residents she surveyed, she and fellow organizer Adina Astor began speaking with about 300 farmers.
Eventually they hope to have eight farmers participate and would also like to add a cheese vendor, which they were unable to secure this year, Reohr said.
The market will include demonstrations from local restaurants and a community table where nonprofit agencies will demonstrate, among other presentations, composting with worms and how rainwater barrels work.
There will also be some form of entertainment such as a local musician or face painting each week.
Once a month there will be a larger event beginning July 9 with a performance by the Hanson Keohane Irish Dance School of West Roxbury, and followed in later months by a tomato festival, a pie making contest, and pumpkin carving.
"We're trying to get quite interesting and active things that will really attract all kinds of people," said Reohr, who hopes there will be enough demand to attract more farmers next year.
"We're not trying to just cater to the Whole Foods crowd, because that just wouldn't work," she said.
The market, which costs about $3,000 to run this year, is funded by Dedham Square Circle, the Dedham Medical Association and donations from other local businesses.
For more information contact Dedhamfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
Daily News staff Lindsey Parietti can be reached at lindsey.parietti@cnc.com
