Farmers market: Upbeat come rain or come shine
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Farmers, vendors, artists and musicians — all locally ‘grown’ — turned even rainy Saturdays bright. 
The Putnam Saturday Farmers Market recently finished its season and the high points were amazing, according to Market Master Cassidy Ball.
She said the high point of the market was the entire month of July. “The farmers had some bountiful harvests with so many varieties of summer crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, peppers, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, and more. July is a great month for fresh local food.”
And even flowers. In fact the vendors were pleased this year, so much so that one of the flower vendors took a full-time spot this year. The bouquets were delightful. Ball said some of the newer vendors loved the market so much they requested to come back full time. 
Customers enjoyed the variety of baked goods this market season. Ball said there were two bakers at every market this year.
She added many market goers were big fans of the live music that graced the market this year.
Ball said: “The people who come to the markets and the farmers, artisans, and bakers that help make the market possible are always a treat to see every Saturday June through October. The atmosphere of the Putnam Saturday Farmers Market is always upbeat and wholesome even in the rain or shine. We were lucky to have more sunny days than rain and overall it was another busy and successful year at the PSFM.”
Busy indeed. There were almost 7,000 visitors at the 2025 market. According to this summer’s tally sheets, this year there were six full-time farm vendors and six part-time food vendors. The artisan vendors totaled three and the nonprofits totaled two.
Mary Ann Chinatti, director of the town’s Economic and Community Development Department, the market “was a resounding success again this year. Thank you to all of our vendors for their participation and to the customers, many of whom return year after year.” She also thanked the market’s “two outstanding Market Managers Cassidy Ball and Taylor Copeland, for ensuring things ran smoothly.”
Chinatti added her thanks to all who helped make this year’s season “such a success and we look forward to the 2026 market!”

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Cassidy Ball. Linda Lemmon photo

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