Opening day is finally here!

I’ve now prepared for 17 “opening days” at the Hastings Farmers Market and I can honestly say that I still feel just as excited (and somewhat jittery) about that first summer market of the season, when we are flush with produce and shoppers line up as early as 8 a.m. to be first on line for cod, pea shoots and peonies.

Each year brings a slightly different mix of vendors. Change is inevitable. For example, as many of you already know, Hunter and Conor from Stoneberry Farm will not be returning to the market. This spring, there were issues with the lease of their Coxsackie farmland. Rather than pick up and start anew in a different location, the couple decided to step away from farmers markets while they regroup.

Pauses can be healthy and restorative. In fact, most of our farms practicing regenerative farming make sure that swaths of their fields are allowed to lay fallow for some time to refuel and replenish. It’s all part of the natural cycle of things.

We will miss Conor’s ever-growing beard, Hunter’s freckles and their wooden crates so artfully stacked with rose-red radishes and fluorescent rainbow chard. But this unexpected opening in our farmer lineup has allowed us to bring in a new organic farmer, Halal Pastures.  A mainstay at the Union Square Greenmarket, this farm grows over 400 varieties of vegetables in 70 acres of black dirt. They will bring new varieties to the market like fava beans, green radishes and more.

Sea Change Flower & Farm is also leaving which opened the door for Thousand Leaf Gardens to step in. This biodynamic farm, run by Mary-Kate Chillemi and husband Chris, grows both specialty flowers and specialty produce in Gardiner, NY. Mary-Kate grew up in Tarrytown and is thrilled to be vending at a market “so close to home.” They just had their first baby, Clara, who will make her first appearance at the market soon.

There will be no shortage of beautiful organic produce at the market this year.

Or, for that matter, fruit. Please give a warm welcome to Mead Orchards, of Tivoli, NY one of the oldest and most beloved orchards in the Hudson Valley.  When it first opened in 1916,  Mead used to ship his just-picked apples to Manhattan by boat along the Hudson. Although they started out as a strictly-apple orchard, they’ve expanded over the years, and generations of Meads, to include summer berries (some no spray!), stone fruit, melons and so much more. Of course, the Orchards of Concklin and Morgiewicz Produce anchor vendors since DAY ONE, are returning.

The Hampton Grocer, purveyors of small-batch extra nutty granola in flavors like raspberry lemon, joins us weekly as well. If you prefer your granola to be gluten-free, savory and vegetal (think: beet & buckwheat or parsnip & oat) head straight to Wildcraft Baking Co., joining us on the first Saturday of each month.

A new season often means a new market map so it’s possible that some of your favorite vendors have moved to a different spot. We do not move vendors lightly. Trust us, there is a method to our madness.

Don’t panic if you can’t find someone, just ask at the market tent and we’ll point you in the right direction.

We’ve been overwhelmed with requests from community groups, nonprofits and local businesses to set up a table at the market. As you know, our space is tight so we must limit community groups to two per market. Please reach out to: community@hastingsfarmersmarket.org to get on the market calendar.

Milton is performing Saturday, as per tradition on opening day.

All of our new T-shirts (and onesies!) will arrive next week so pick up last season’s merch at bargain basement prices. Rebecca, who is returning as your trusty market manager (thank goodness!) will help you find your size.

We want to take advantage of a new season to thank all of our hard-working volunteers and to make an appeal for more volunteers to help us make the magic happen every week from June through Thanksgiving. It really is the most fun you’ll ever have in a parking lot.

See you at the market!