Clearing Up the Confusion
The Board of Directors of the non-profit group, “We Are One Farmers’ Market” has had requests from customers and vendors to help clear up confusion surrounding the two farmers’ markets operating in Weare, NH.  As the group formed this year to operate the longest-running market in the town of Weare for area farmers, we’re happy to help sort things out.

Here’s the history:  

• In 2004 Jenny Chartier formed the non-profit group called “The Weare Farmers’ Market.”  She secured the same name from the State of NH as the name of the open-air farmers’ market that did business on the Town green on Friday afternoons during the summer.
• In 2009 Jenny handed over the operation of The Weare Farmers’ Market, and granted permission for use of the name, to Wendy Stevens, an herbalist living in --and running “Garden Plum Enterprises, LLC” --  in the town of Weare.
• Wendy took over the then successful market and brought her business and marketing skills to bear.  She developed a web presence for the market, developed a customer database, and began to reach out to additional vendors so the market could better serve customers’ needs. The result is a vibrant market providing a variety of choices to the customers, including local meat, milk, eggs, and produce. Under her management the market expanded into the winter season providing more opportunity for customers to access healthy, local food as well as opportunity for farmers to earn additional income.  It was at this time that she implemented a system of pre-ordering items to make the market more convenient during the short, cold days of winter.
• In 2010 Wendy formed a non-profit organization called “G.R.O.W.” - Growing Rural Occupations of Weare -- with the intent of having GROW operate the existing Weare Farmers’ Market.  The GROW Board was unable to come together so Wendy continued operating the Weare Farmers’ Market under the umbrella of Garden Plum.  

Early in 2011, an enterprising farmer saw that the original non-profit organization called “The Weare Farmers’ Market” had been inactive long enough for the trade name to expire.  The State of NH never notified Wendy Stevens that the right of the original non-profit group to hold the name had expired.  That farmer bought the name and made plans to open another farmers’ market in the town of Weare.  

While the original name of farmers market had been legally purchased by someone else, Wendy had every intention of continuing to serve the vendors’ businesses and customers’ needs and chose to change the name and continue the same market by opening the 2011 Farmers Market on the Weare town green, as had been done for the past  six years.

Why the second farmers’ market in town chose to operate on the same day, at the same time as a market that had been in existence without interruption for six years is unknown to us.  We had concern for the impact this would have on our vendors so we held a meeting with them.  We asked if choosing a different day and time was what they wanted and to a vendor, we were told another day would not work for them.  So, without interruption, the farmers’ market that had been held on the Town green in Weare for six years on Friday afternoons kicked off it’s seventh season with the new name, “We Are One Farmers Market.”  

At no time has the State, or the Town of Weare, taken a market from Wendy Stevens, or dissolved a non-profit group associated with her, or taken punitive action against her for her operation of a farmers’ market.  

The name has changed, and some of the faces.  Being a farmer means running a business so vendors come and go, making decisions for various reasons. We never like to see a vendor leave but we understand everyone needs to choose what’s best for their own business.

But make no mistake about it:  This market is the longest-running market for farmers in the town of Weare.  

As a Board of Directors we’re proud to be part of continuing this tradition.  Our mission is to support farmers in Weare and surrounding areas as well as to provide a healthy local food supply to our customers.  We give higher ranking in applications to farmers in Weare. We have guidelines to make sure our vendors thrive and we have vendors from around the State meeting our customers’ needs. 

With Wendy’s vision --and input from vendors, customers, and the Board-- this market has wrapped up a seventh summer season, and is expanding into it’s second winter season. With the addition of vendors and access to a commercial kitchen customers can not only buy the food they want, they can also enjoy a healthy prepared meal made wholly, or in part, with ingredients produced by our vendors.  

Operating on the Town green, on Friday afternoons, without interruption for seven years, this market is here to stay.  We see our market continuing to thrive in both summer and winter seasons.  We’re proud to shepherd the longest-running farmers’ market in Weare into the future and we look forward to serving old and new neighbors and vendors along the way.

The Board of Directors, We Are One Farmers Market, Weare, NH

The WeAre¹Farmers Market is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation registered with both the State of NH and Attorney General. If you would like to support our mission, we invite you to make a tax deductible donation to our market. Thank you for investing in locally produced agricultural products.

WeAre1 Farmers Market • 290 Quaker St • Weare NH 03281