Featuring a record 40 vendors, Bridgeport Farmers Market opens Sunday for the summer season. The outdoor marketplace at Charles Pointe will be dotted with an array of tents where shoppers will find locally-grown seasonal produce, farm-raised meats and eggs and a variety of specialty vendors.

 

Brand new to the line-up are Quantum Bean Coffee, Health Nut smoothies, Gail Phares, Laurel Mountain Basketry, In a Jam Preserves, Mike Diaz, Hasenpfeffer Farms and Running Bug Farm.

 

Quantum Bean Coffee features artisan roaster Sam Bonasso, who will be preparing a variety of coffee-based drinks on site.

 

“He’ll be making pour overs, ice coffees and selling bags of beans,” said Bridgeport Farmers Market President Deb Workman. “We are very excited about that.”

 

Also preparing drinks for purchase will be Health Nut, which specializes in fruit and vegetable smoothies.

 

Gail Phares is a specialty baker who makes allergen-free and gluten-free baked goods and In a Jam Preserves is a Parkersburg-based maker of jams, jellies and preserves from fruits grown on the vendor's Parkersburg farm. Also for sale will be pickles and pickled vegetables, Workman said.

 

Laurel Mountain Basketry of Bruceton Mills is the market's first basket vendor.

 

“They make gorgeous baskets out of West Virginia wood,” Workman said.

 

Likewise, Mike Diaz crafts furniture from hardwoods obtained from his own property.

 

Hasenpfeffer Farms out of Monongalia County also brings a special niche to the market.

 

“They’re actually a rabbitry and will have rabbit meat later in the year, but during the first couple of markets, they will be selling all natural fertilizer made from rabbit droppings,” Workman said.

 

This being the growing season, the product is expected to be popular, she said.

 

Running Bug Farm is the market’s newest grower of fresh seasonal produce. Their products are gown with organic practices.

 

Other new vendors will be joining the market as the season progresses, Workman said.

 

“We could reach 50 vendors by peak season,” she said.

As the market grows, there will be some shifting of vendor locations.

 

“We would appreciate the patience of our customers as we have to re-diagram the market,” Workman said. “As we expand, people may have to seek out the vendors they are looking for.”

 

Because of the expansion, the parking area is slightly affected and customers are asked to use caution upon entering and parking. 

 

The market’s opening day will bring shoppers asparagus, strawberries, root vegetables, herbs, lettuces and a wide variety of greens. There will also be starter plants, flowers and maybe even a few surprises.

 

“We’ve talked to all of our farmers who are coming this Sunday and they said depending upon how much rain we get this week, they may be bringing some other products,” Workman said. “We want people to appreciate that. Part of the attraction to buying at the market is getting to talk to farmers who grow the produce or raise the beef, chicken or pork. You can ask them about their practices and buy their local products, knowing that your money will help all of that to continue.”

While at the market, Workman encourages shoppers to stop by the children’s tent and the dining hub.

 

At the children's tent, customers can learn more about the newly-unveiled children’s activity – the POP (Power of Produce) Club." Children between the ages of 5 and 12 are eligible to sign up for the activity, which begins June 7. Throughout June, July and August, those who enroll in the POP Club will be given at each weekly market $2 tokens, which can be redeemed at the market for fruits and vegetables.

 

“We encourage our kids to try fruits and vegetables they haven’t tried before,” Workman said.

 

Tokens can be spent right away or saved for a bigger purchase later in the season, she said.

 

This year’s dining hub will again feature Bridgeport Conference Center – which will prepare made-to-order omelets among other brunch options – and Cody Thrasher’s food truck, Hash Browns & New Grounds.

 

New to the dining hub is West Virginia OO Bagel Company of Monongalia County, featuring homemade bagel sandwiches and Gourmet Hog-Dog of Upshur County, offering seven different hot-dog varieties with all proceeds benefiting the non-profit organization, Inspiring West Virginia.

 

All prepared food purchased at the dining hub utilizes market products, Workman said. Sunday will also feature the music of Rus Reppert, a chef demonstration by Tim Goots of Mia Margherita and yoga sessions by Meg Shaver. Those yoga sessions will be held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and will cost $5 each. 

 

The market will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year, there’s definitely something for everyone, Workman said.