NORWAY – Overcast skies and occasional sprinkles didn’t keep vendors or customers away from the weekly farmers’ market.

The market’s season began May 24 and it’s open from 2 to 6 p.m. each Thursday through October at Longley’s parking lot, just off Main Street on Deering Street.

Harrison’s market opened May 28 in the municipal parking lot between the library and the Town Hall. Hours in Harrison are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Vendors say that during the opening weeks, customers can expect to find overwintered parsnips, lettuce, spinach, asparagus, scallions, greens, rhubarb, organic eggs, maple syrup, home-baked bread, pastries, annuals, seedlings and hanging plants.

New this year are felted wool products, flower and herb wreaths, fresh fish, and natural pork and chicken products from Sumner Valley Farm.

The season has bought in some new faces: Maple Springs Farm (Mark Heidmann), Scott Family Farm (Lauren Scott), Crestholm Farm (Brian and Suzane Hall), and Small Point Fisheries (Robert Graves).

Two farms are being run by a new generation of farmers. Lauren Scott of the Scott Family Farm will be trying her hand at farming for market. Scott has promised peaches toward the end of summer.

Jessi Person is running Carter’s Farm Market, having taken over the operation from her parents.

Returning farms are Fillebrown Gardens (Tom and Sue Fillebrown), LolliePapa Farm (Don and Jeanette Baldridge), Looking Down Farm (Murray and Phyllis Herrick), Ram’s Farm (Helen Ramsdell and Nancy Ann), Smedbergs Crystal Spring Farm (Roger and Gail), Little Falls Farm (John and Mary Belding), Harvest Moon Produce (Pat Verrill), and Hungry Hollow Country Store (Shirley Damm).

The farmers’ market will feature food samples, cooking demonstrations, and several “cook-offs” with competing farms that will be judged by customers.

Last year’s chili cook-off in Harrison was well attended.

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