A public commenter at a Town of Templeton meeting said this year’s farmers market, held before and during concerts on the common, drew few vendors and buyers and that organizers are asking residents whether the market should continue.

The commenter said the market partnered with the Templeton Cultural Council and that the site change “was drastically improved,” noting the market was “under a big tree” with “ample parking.” They added, however, that “we didn't have a lot of vendors” and “we didn't really have a lot of buyers either,” and suggested limited advertising or the new location in its first year there may have contributed to low turnout.

The speaker said earlier seasons met state recognition requirements for a farmers market by fielding at least three agricultural producers each week — the commenter said those earlier participants included themselves, a farmer from Ashburnham and a honey producer from Phillipston — but that attendance this season fell below that standard. The commenter noted a commonly applied state requirement that a market have at least two farmers in attendance to be recognized as a farmers market.

Organizers do not charge a booth fee and reported they have no dedicated funding, which the commenter said prevented hiring a market master or applying for certain state grants. “So we can't hire a market master, to get a grant from the state. We would probably have to have more agricultural, producers commit to being at the market,” the commenter said, describing funding and staffing limits as barriers to expansion.

The commenter urged residents to weigh in early — noting in October that farmers markets typically begin in May — with suggestions on whether the community wants a market and what might make it successful. They invited feedback via social media and attendance: “if you're watching us or if you catch us on YouTube or if you see my Facebook page, you'll give some thought to suggesting how could we make this better or should we should we even do it?”

No formal motion or vote on the market was recorded in the meeting transcript. The discussion was presented as a request for community input and planning; no formal direction to staff or commitments of funding were recorded.

Organizers seeking to revive or expand the market will need to secure more agricultural producers if they want state recognition, identify funding or volunteers to manage the market, and increase outreach to potential vendors and buyers in the months before a typical May start.