Dartmouth Farmers’ Market is a “makers’ market,” meaning vendors need to grow or make almost everything they sell. 

“And definitely everything is local,” said Susan Murray, co-owner of Flying Carrot Farm. 

Murray, who also works to organize the market, said she’s been selling her produce there for 12 years. Before the pandemic, she said the market was a wider community event. 

“During the pandemic, everything just changed,” she said. “Shopping habits have changed … work habits have changed.”

Since then, the market has been missing some of that “community feel.” 

This year, the farmers’ market formed a committee to plan the summer’s markets and try and get that feeling of unity back. They’re looking to bring more patrons and vendors into the fold by adding weekly events into the schedule, such as “Touch a Truck” in partnership with the fire department, at the June 30 market. 

At the next market, on July 7, local artists will sell their work alongside the usual farmers and craftspeople. 

The farmers’ market takes place every Friday over the summer, until October 20, at St. Mary’s Parish, 789 Dartmouth St. 

Murray said she and other vendors are making a “concerted effort” to make the market into a gathering place. 

“It’s all about creating place and creating community,” Murray said.

Vendors at the market said the emphasis on local producers already works toward that.

“This is all people who are growing it themselves and making it themselves,” said Ryan Miller, farmer at Groundwork Farm in Westport. “It’s part of the ethos that surrounds [the market]. You’re talking to the people who are making the food.”

Rose Kazin, owner of Rosie’s Sweets, bakes all of her confections fresh in her Dartmouth home.

“[The market] is like a little community: the same people like to come every week,” Kazin said. “I think they love it and we do too.”

Kazin is on the market’s committee that has helped plan events for the summer. She said it’s not yet confirmed, but they are looking to bring in a petting zoo later this year alongside one of the markets. 

Kathy Cavanagh has been coming to the Dartmouth Farmers’ Market for 10 years. She appreciates that every week’s vendors are a little different, and that the farms are local. 

“It’s nice to have fresh vegetables and homemade things,” said Cavanagh. “It’s nice because this farm, [Flying Carrot Farm], they’re just down the street.”

Vendors said they expect the market to grow as the summer goes on. 

‘It’s really picking up a lot of steam,” Miller said. “We’re noticing more and more people coming up every week.”

July events at the market include ‘Art at the Market’ on July 7, ‘Garden Days’ featuring a master gardener and local garden clubs on July 14, ‘Senior Days’ featuring resources for seniors on July 21, and ‘Dog Days’ featuring local pet vendors and encouragement to bring pups on July 28.