Framingham Farmer's Market Not Just for Farmers

When you hear Farmer’s Market, you think about fresh vegetables and fruit. What about homemade soap? Fresh kettlecorn?

Some of the unusual products at the Framingham Farmer’s Market every Thursday brings diversity to it’s customers with the wider range of products to choose from, not just fresh produce.

Jackie Meninno, the market’s manager, said allowing some different businesses into the market, “gives a voice to small business crafters as well.”

Meninno said while her first mission is agriculture, the market offers all sorts of different and unique items.

Velma’s Kettle Corn offers some untraditional popcorn offerings. The Buzzards Bay-based business travels over New England to various locations to sell their kettle corn.

Local-based Julie’s Z Breads offers a wide variety of zucchini breads and muffins. Julie’s also offers gluten-free bread and most of the breads are made without dairy.

Jennifer Hofmann, owner of Jennifer’s Handmade Soap, provides market customers with a range of different soaps, from the regular bars smelling of lavender to more unique aromas like fruit punch.

Hofmann has been in business for two years. What started off researching how soap is made for a project, turning into a hobby after attending a soap-making class. She now makes her own soaps with different natural oils.

“I can make five to 10 bars of soap in one match, which takes about two hours,” Hofmann explained. “Then it takes 24 hours to harden before I can cut it from the mold. Then, I put each bar on a drying rack to cure 4-6 weeks.” Allowing each bar to cure allows the water in the lye to evaporate out of the bar, making them last longer.

Fudge ‘n Stuff, another vendor sells 17-18 different flavors of fudge, in addition to barks, brittles, and gourmet popcorn. Gisele Albertelli, of Stowe, who owns Fudge ‘N Stuff, said, “I make it all week, only four to five ingredients. I started in April at a flea market.” 

Other fares at the market include homemade candles, pieces of art and fresh lemonade.

Meninno said the variety in vendors will extend into the winter market, a once a month Farmer’s Market located in Scott Hall, with hopes to expand to twice a month.

“We’ll have some greenhouse vegetables, bread, soap, fudge, and fresh fish in the winter, a maximum of 14 vendors,” Meninno said. “That market will begin in November.”

The current Farmer’s Market will continue until Oct. 20 and every Thursday at Centre Common from noon to 5:30 p.m.