Eastham Gets a Farmers Market by Parker Mumford

The old T-Time driving range will be the site of a new town-run farmers market set to operate from mid-June to Labor Day.

The select board on March 3 approved a set of market rules, including that vendors “shall sell agricultural, horticultural, or food items that they themselves have grown”; they’ll need approval from the market manager to sell baked goods and other processed foods. Vendors must also provide tents, tables, and chairs and have insurance.

The fee for participation is $285 for 12 weeks in a 10-by-10 space, or $142.50 for 6 weeks, plus $25 per market.

“When we were thinking about interim uses for T-Time, this seemed like a great fit,” said Assistant Town Manager Rich Bienvenue. He told the board that Eastham’s administrative coordinator Mira Milkova was behind the initiative. “She goes to lots of farmers markets, and she has a lot of contacts,” Bienvenue said. Milkova will be the farmers market manager.

“People have been asking me, ‘Why isn’t there a farmers market in Eastham?’ ” Milkova told the board. “I was very honored when Rich told me I could help.” —