Written by Rochelle Chalmers of Drifter Doughnut:

 

Once upon a time, there was a boy and a girl whose biggest dream was to someday make something worthy of selling at the Bridgeport Farmer’s Market. The girl would watch as others poured their heart and soul into an idea and transformed that vision into something tangible. She yearned for inspiration to strike in her own heart so that she could join those who found ways to make a living through pure grit and creativity. Then one day, the couple had an idea. They wondered why they had to drive all the way to the beach for their family to enjoy beach donuts but once per year. They thought others might feel the same way. And thus, Drifter Doughnuts was born.

 

That girl was me, and my husband Cory realized soon after we married that our lives would never be mundane so long as he lived to hear those four magical (sometimes dreaded) words: “I have an idea...” It might sound like pandering to say our dream was to join the Bridgeport Farmer’s Market, but for us, the BFM was the pinnacle of success. And we were blessed enough to not only be granted that opportunity, but we gained so much more along the journey in making lifelong friends who shared their passions alongside us each Sunday.

 

To vend at the market is to become part of a large, extended family. Each week, we’d greet familiar faces at sunrise and share our morning ails. Often already exhausted from working the days before but excited to cap off our weekend with shared community. The barter system is in full swing at the market, and we were always happy to trade donuts for produce, treats, popcorn, drinks, flowers, or lunch once we put in a hard morning’s work. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes of that beautiful market, and I can tell you with all sincerity it’s the beating heart behind the reasons you all love visiting as patrons each week.

 

This season, we decided to trade in our vendor hats and walk the aisles as customers once more. It had been a long time since we got to see the market through the eyes of people relaxing on a Sunday rather than sweating it out in a hot food truck. And what a bittersweet experience that has been. We miss our customers dearly and see you all strolling along with your own families as we pass by. Many don't recognize us out of the context of punching orders into a cash register, and that’s ok. We get to enjoy the magic of a full-fledged festival come to life 22 Sundays a season.

It’s no small task making an event like the BFM happen. It's as awesome to watch from the outside as it was from within. And now with the perspective of having been both a vendor and a customer, one fact rings true. Without the support of our local community, we're just a bunch of people hanging out in a parking lot on a Sunday. But given the friendships we've forged over the years, that is certainly never a bad place to be.