"For a first-year market it's been good ñ better than any other first-year market we've done," he said.
Clarksburg Town Center developer Newland Communities decided last winter to start a farmers market on the corner of what will eventually be the community's retail district, said Peggy Malloy, a Newland Communities marketing director.
"Newland wanted to get it started now because one of the buildings in the civic area [of the retail district] is an open-air market pavilion," Malloy said. "We want to have a growing, thriving market to move in there."
The developer chose a location that will be the last section of the retail area constructed, so by the time the market will need to move, the pavilion should be ready, she said.
Malloy and some residents met with the Montgomery County Farmers Association to line up farmers. Niki Lewis, owner of Green Earth Goods in Clarksburg, a store that features organic goods, helped recruit people she knew.
Among them was Loran Shallenberger, whose farm is so new he has not yet given it a name.
Last year, Shallenberger learned organic farming at the Red Wiggler community farm in Clarksburg. This year, he has rented some land in Comus and is growing vegetables on one acre and raising chickens and pigs on another seven acres.
He had several varieties of heirloom tomatoes for sale Sunday.
"The heirlooms really taste better than the hybrids," he said. "I want to preserve the genetic diversity."
A steady stream of customers came from opening at 10 a.m. until close at 1 p.m. Sellers have gotten used to a small rush of customers at 12:30 p.m. that comes by after church.
The largest presence was the Seneca View Orchard stand. The 300-acre farm in Sabillasville participates in eight farmers markets a week. It set up four tables plus a display of watermelons and cantaloupes and sold honey made from bees on the farm, apple sauce made from its own apples and fresh-cut flowers in addition to fruit and vegetables.
Business has been better every week, said owner Richard Calimer.
"It takes a while for people to get used to the way we sell," he said.
The most crowded stalls were the ones that offered samples, such as Erica Ford's LaSoleil Simply Fresh salsa and the Crab Ladies crab cakes.
The Crab Ladies were in the catering business for five years before deciding to sell directly to the public at the market, said Lynn Longo, who was working the stall.
Ford sold her salsa to family and friends for years before deciding to rent a commercial kitchen to make it for the public. She comes to the market every other week and always sells out.
"I buy two every week," said Mark Leiberman, who lives within walking distance of the market.
The first week he bought one container, brought it home, ate it immediately and walked back to the market to buy more, but he was too late and Ford had sold out.
Another popular merchant, a lady who makes ice-cream sandwiches, only comes once a month, Malloy said.
Market organizers are sending regular customers e-mail alerts mid-week on who will be selling at the market Sunday and what they will bring. The information is also posted at www.clarksburgfarmersmar
ket.org.
Even though more people are discovering the market every week, many farmers still have produce left at closing time. Lewis and Malloy are asking large businesses in the area to adopt a month and donate $800 to $1,000 for organizers to buy the produce from the farmers so it could be delivered to area food pantries.
So far, several have expressed interested in the idea, Malloy said, and Newland is committed to sponsoring the month of October.
The farmers market will have an end-of-summer celebration Aug. 24.
The market will remain open Sundays at least through mid-November and possibly into December if there is a group that wants to sell holiday greens and Christmas trees, Malloy said.
