The Town of New Windsor welcomed friends and neighbors to its first farmers market of the spring/summer season with local business owners offering homemade goods and food for people to enjoy. The market on Saturday, May 13 ran from 10 to 2 pm and will return on June 3 at Town Hall.

One of the newest vendors to the New Windsor Farmers Market was Mae Flower Designs, owned by Joanna Weyer. During the course of the later afternoon, Weyer’s sister, Melissa Bowley, helped hold down the stand and assisted customers in browsing and potentially purchasing some of the arrangements. The business, according to Weyer, drew inspiration from her mother, as she was an entrepreneur herself. Both sisters grew up with that entrepreneurial spirit and decided that they both wanted to pursue similar ventures like their mother.

Both sisters and the business were very well received at the market, and both sisters were grateful for the easy registration and setup process for the market. “People seem to really like how unique they [the arrangements] were and sort of like, stylized,” said Bowley. “I think we made a great first impression.”

Brayan Gonzalez of Tony’s Pickles personally did not know much about the particular market in New Windsor. He had been asked to come over to this particular market to sell the products, and at the conclusion of the event he looked forward to coming back to New Windsor. “People are amazing around here. Hopefully they come back and we can have a good conversation and sell some pickles,” said Gonzalez.

Jessica’s Jems, owned by Jessica Petrus of New Windsor, shared that it was a beautiful day to have the market held right in her hometown, and the registration process was easy to prepare. Petrus was also very happy to have found a convenient location for her vehicle so she can load and unload her products and complete additional set up with ease. As a local business owner and maker of her own signature products, Petrus was grateful to the customers she met and for the opportunity to create a homemade product that is unique and appreciated rather than being from a big box store. “I absolutely love what I do. I make cups and tumblers, T-shirts and stuff. I love putting my love of the craft into it, and I especially love when people admire it and take it home and just show me that they’re using it and that it’s going to good use,” said Petrus. “I’m glad that a lot of people are trying to get one of a kind things, handmade things, and I really do enjoy making them.”

In the fall of 2022, New Windsor had hosted its first farmers market at town hall with various vendors and food to enjoy during the course of the day; and now with the warmer months approaching, the town looked to bring the market back for the community. The entire schedule with vendor list is available at newwindsor-ny.gov/About/Farmers-Market.