FOOD: Hancock Farmers and Artisans Market sticks with what’s successful

Coasters handmade by Ann Desmet of Antrim, using yarn made at her Windfall Farm.

Coasters handmade by Ann Desmet of Antrim, using yarn made at her Windfall Farm. STAFF PHOTO BY CAMERON CASHMAN

Handmade preserves from Windfall Farm.

Handmade preserves from Windfall Farm. STAFF PHOTO BY CAMERON CASHMAN

Each Hancock Artisans and Farmers Market features a selection of food trucks from around the region.

Each Hancock Artisans and Farmers Market features a selection of food trucks from around the region. STAFF PHOTO BY CAMERON CASHMAN

Handmade artisan marshmallows from Artisan Hill Treats.

Handmade artisan marshmallows from Artisan Hill Treats. STAFF PHOTO BY CAMERON CASHMAN

The 2024 Hancock Farmers and Artisans Market.

The 2024 Hancock Farmers and Artisans Market. STAFF PHOTO BY CAMERON CASHMAN

Handmade preserves and hand-colored yarn from Windfall Farm in Antrim.

Handmade preserves and hand-colored yarn from Windfall Farm in Antrim. STAFF PHOTO BY CAMERON CASHMAN

Maple syrup from Midnight Maples Farm in Stoddard.

Maple syrup from Midnight Maples Farm in Stoddard. STAFF PHOTO BY CAMERON CASHMAN

Handmade marshmallows from Artisan Hill Treats.

Handmade marshmallows from Artisan Hill Treats. STAFF PHOTO BY CAMERON CASHMAN

Witching Hour Provisions operates a mobile refilling station with refills of their products.

Witching Hour Provisions operates a mobile refilling station with refills of their products. STAFF PHOTO BY CAMERON CASHMAN

Blackfire Farm offers fresh produce at the market.

Blackfire Farm offers fresh produce at the market. STAFF PHOTO BY CAMERON CASHMAN

By CAMERON CASHMAN

Monadnock Ledger-Transcript

Published: 07-09-2024 12:04 PM

When it comes to running a successful farmers’ market, organizers Meghan Gould and Jessica Quinn say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

The Hancock Artisans and Farmers Market has returned for its second year since its revitalization in 2023, and citing the success of last years market, Gould and Quinn haven’t made any changes to the format. The market runs Thursdays through Aug. 15 from 4 to 7 p.m. on the Hancock Town Common. Each market features a variety of vendors offering locally made foods and artisan crafts, food trucks from around the region and a summer concert series at the gazebo beginning at 6 p.m.

“It’s a wonderful market, and we do great here,” said Ann Desmet, co-proprietor of Windfall Farm in Antrim along with David Hull. Windfall Farms offers hand-dyed wool and handmade wool products, as well as organic free-range eggs, vegetables and poultry. At the first market of 2024, they had with them a selection of pickles and preserves, including fresh salsa homemade with locally sourced ingredients.

Sherrie Paltrineri began her Dublin-based business Artisan Hill Treats selling hot cocoa bombs in the winter.

“But nobody wants cocoa bombs in the summer, so this year we started the homemade marshmallows,” she said.

Artisan Hill has a variety of homemade marshmallow flavors, including toasted coconut, maple, cookies ’n’ cream, and birthday cake. They also serve chocolate-covered s’mores made with their own chocolate, homemade marshmallows and homemade graham crackers.

Kelly and Rob Collins began their Midnight Maples Farm on a small plot of land in Hancock after many years maple-sugaring as a hobby. They purchased their first wood-fired maple evaporator in 2021, and they now operate a 100-acre farm in Stoddard. Their products include traditional maple syrup, maple-covered nuts, maple lemonade and a variety of baked goods, all sweetened only with maple sugar.

Blackfire Farm, with a presence in Hancock and Greenfield, offers fresh, organically grown produce without using pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. They also raise sheep, chicken, rabbits, pigs and registered Scottish highland cattle. They’re also known for their wood-fired pizzas made in a custom-built wood-fired pizza oven, which they serve at the Post & Beam in Peterborough every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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“This market’s a lot of fun – it’s got live music, it’s got the food trucks,” said Kaela Demetra, who operates Olive & Honey from her home in Francestown. “And it’s a nice big area, so kids can play while their parents shop.”

Olive & Honey is a traditional Greek bakery, and Demetra uses recipes passed down from her grandmother. Demetra changes her menu for every market, but consistently offers fresh baklava alongside baked goods and snacks.

Witching Hour Provisions, based out of Contoocook, offers hand-roasted, small-batch coffees packaged in sustainable, compostable bags. They also offer several other provisions, such as candles, notebooks, beard oil, lip balm and other natural products.

Food trucks this year include Teenie Wienies, Taco Beyondo, Bubba Franks and Becky's Pies and Desserts. For information on the Hancock Artisans and Farmers Market, visit hancockfarmers.com.