by James Knowles
Staff Writer

The sound of joyful banter, children’s voices, crinkling of leaves and the whoosh of the wind fills the air as people conjugate at the Towns Common to enjoy the weekly Westford Farmer’s Market.

People from all over the community gather to purchase some earth-friendly food products such as organic fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and even some bagels and coffee.

Three years ago Gloria Gilbert, head and founder of Westford Farmer’s Market, gathered a handful of citizens together for a common cause, which was to bring Westford together as a community and to try and make Westford more earth-friendly by buying naturally grown products and baked goods instead of the pre-packaged products that can e found at the local grocery store.

Now in 2009, Farmer’s Market has become part of everyday life here in Westford. Gilbert says that the amount of people who come to Farmer’s market have about eight times more people every week than back in 2006.

Annie Cronin, a first-year vendor at Westford Farmer’s Market and also a diagnosed celiac, sells gluten-free products such as cookies and other baked goods free of wheat and gluten and she also offers cooking classes to people who would like to learn celiac-friendly recipes.

“I’ve been coming to Farmer’s Market since it first started,” Cronin states, “Now being a vendor has given me a complete new eye on things. I have been able to meet a diverse group of people and able to advertise my business, an opportunity I would have never been able to have prior.”

Sue Ventura, a Pepperell native, has been coming to the Westford Farmer’s Market for two years. Sue states that Westford Farmer’s Market has grown so much in popularity that within the next ten years, local grocers may face some competition.

“It’s all about the organic and fresh foods. With everyone being so concerned about how each individual plant was grown and packaged; it’s a relief when a person can come down to a farm stand and know that the food they are buying is fresh out the dirt,” said Ventura.

Gloria Gilbert, head and founder of Westford’s Farmer Market, states that “the key” to Farmer’s Market is a good vendor and good product

“A good vendor is someone who is consistent, appropriate and amiable. The product has to be earth-friendly and homemade,”said Gilbert.

Gilbert states that the Farmer’s Market just adds to the uniqueness of Westford.

“Westford is one of those towns where everybody knows everybody. And everybody now has the opportunity to not only meet up with friends they normally don’t get to see on a day to day basis, but also they can stay healthy and by earth-friendly products,” said Gilbert.