Big things can grow from tiny seeds.
Bountiful fruit trees. Rows of crops. The Westport Farmers’ Market.
Twenty years ago, good friends Paul Newman and Michel Nischan had the germ of an idea.
Besides being an acting idol, Newman had developed best-selling salad dressings, lemonade and popcorn — and given all the profits to charity.
Nischan was a James Beard Award-winning chef.
Together, Newman and Nischan — Westport and Fairfield residents, respectively — owned The Dressing Room restaurant, next to the Westport Country Playhouse.
They knew the importance of healthful, locally sourced food. They recognized too the importance of community institutions.
So they launched the Westport Farmers’ Market, in the Playhouse and Dressing Room parking lot.
From left: Orna Stern, Paul Newman and Michel Nischan.
On Thursday, May 7, the WFM launches its 20th season. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Imperial Avenue parking lot, their current — and much larger — location, they’ll celebrate that milestone.
It truly is special. Fewer than 1 in 4 season markets make it to 2 decades.
The opening day ceremony honors 20 years of award-winning leadership, community building, and a commitment to a healthier, more equitable local food system.
Since that initial season, the WFM has grown from a small neighborhood market into one of Connecticut’s most respected agricultural and community institutions.
(Photo/Fielden Bretsford)
For the past 17 years, executive director Lori Cochran-Dougall has led it. Her mission extends far beyond fresh produce. The Westport Farmers’ Market is also about connecting neighbors, sustaining regional farmers, and building a food system that works for everyone.
Creative programming has included children and teenagers, veterans, and of course farmers themselves.
At the heart of it all is the belief that ingredients found at the Westport Farmers’ Market is healthy, sustainable — and very, very tast
“This market was born from an extraordinary vision — that food could be a force for connection, health, and justice,” Cochran-Dougall says.
“Twenty years later, that vision has never felt more urgent or more alive. Every vendor, every shopper, every season has been a testament to what a community can build when it shows up for each other. I couldn’t be more proud — or more excited about where we go from here.”
One of the WFM’s many community initiatives is “Grow a Row.” Shoppers donate fresh produce, for underserved communities. Director Lori Cochran-Dougall is at far left.
Opening Day features a festive community atmosphere, a noon toast, live music, youth programming, popular returning vendors, and exciting new participants.
As they’ve done since the beginning, visitors can shop fresh seasonal produce, artisanal goods, and connect directly with the farmers and makers behind their food.
In addition this season, WFM will unveil new programs, and a renewed vision for its third decade. They’ll expand educational offerings, deepen partnerships with local growers, and strengthen access to fresh, healthy food across the broader community.
Bill Taibe has been a staunch Westport Farmers’ Market supporter from the start. He’s now a board member.
“It isn’t just a place to shop — it’s where relationships between cooks, farmers and community actually happen,” he says.
“Farmers are the backbone of our industry; they shape how we cook, what we serve, and ultimately how we eat. Their work impacts not just the quality of our food, but the health of our community and the strength of our local economy.
“For those of us who work with food every day, it’s an essential resource. But more importantly, it’s a reflection of what a town can be when it truly supports the people growing and making things the right way.”
For 20 years — week after week, month after month, season after season — the Westport Farmers’ Market has served shoppers, farmers, sponsors, and the entire community.
It’s become a cornerstone of Westport’s cultural, agricultural and economic life.
Something amazing has sprouted from Paul Newman and Michel Nischan’s first seed.
And as the Westport Farmers’ Market enters its third decade, there’s still plenty of room to grow.
The WFM is open every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Imperial Avenue parking lot, from May 7 through November 5. Click here for schedules, vendors and updates.
(“06880” reports on the Farmers’ Market from many angles — along with stories about the environment, local businesses and more. If you enjoy our coverage, click here to support this blog. Thanks!)
After my successful first summer at the Westport Farmers’ Market, I had an idea. One weekend that fall, Sal and I went to an agricultural event. I saw his beautiful old truck with the Gilbertie’s Herb Garden logo.
