The Market Loses a Friend

Christmas Eve brought unexpected news- Jim Beverwyk, a longtime volunteer and friend of the Española Farmers’ Market, had died. I first knew Jim’s wife, Mary Parsaca, while the market was still on Don Diego Street, noticing a frequent customer carrying a big basket on her arm. Later Jim started coming as well.  Mary and Jim had been Peace Corps volunteers in Kenya in the nineteen sixties, about the same time that I was teaching as a volunteer in Guinea. We shared an enjoyment of life in Africa and a love of the communal spirit of open-air markets. When Jim retired from his work with incarcerated youth, he started volunteering on Monday mornings at the market, hauling the heavy metal A-frame signs and placing them around town to remind customers that we were open. He often returned to chat or work in the garden oval he and Mary cultivated. During election years, Jim would be sitting all morning at a table in the center of the market, registering voters. The market has grown from the collective efforts of the farmers and many volunteers. Jim’s generous heart gave out but his spirit continues in the stories we share.


Sabra Moore, Market Manager
Abiquiu, New Mexico

2013 Market Contest Winners

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WINNERS: ESPAÑOLA FARMERS’ MARKET

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL BIGGEST VEGETABLE & BEST POEM CONTEST

October 7, 2013

Vegetable Judge:              Sandra Cata, Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area staff

Poetry Judge:                         Norma Navarro, weaver, gardener, Market Assistant Manager

BIGGEST HEIRLOOM SQUASH & WATERMELON

First Place:                        Elias Gomez & Mary Trujillo, Alcalde

Second Place Melon:            Steven Jaramillo, San Pedro           

Third Place:                        Elefio & Seraphine Montoya,Chimayo           

BIGGEST PUMPKIN

First Place:                        Ross Vargas, La Madera

Second Place:             J Ross Vargas, La Madera

Third Place:                        Tranquilino & Floraida Martinez, Rio Lucia

BIGGEST or PRETTIEST CHILE WREATH

First Place:                        Luz Lopez, El Guique           

Second Place:                        Dolores Corona, Espanola           

Third Place:                        Lupe Jiminez, Alcalde

BIGGEST ZUCCHINI

First Place:                        Roy Campbell, Alcalde

 

BIGGEST ROOT VEGETABLE

First Place:                        Jesus Zavala, Hernandez (onions)

Second Place:                        Nicolas Romero, Vadito (beets)

Third Place Tie:                        Luz and Leonard Lopez (radish)

Third Place Tie:                        David Joseph (carrot)

ODDEST VEGETABLE

First Place:                        Lupe Jiminez , Alcalde(crossed potato)

Second Place:             Elefio and Seraphine Montoya, Chimayo  (twisted chiles)

Third Place:                        Alejandro Gonzales, El Guique (Snoopy Dog potato)

WILD CARD VEGETABLE

First Place:                        Elias Gomez, Alcalde (biggest corn stalk)

Second Place:                        Jorge Orozco, Espanola (big tomatoes)

Third Place:                        Rudy Cordova, Hernandez (tiny pumpkins)

 

BEST POEM

First Place:                        Mark Romero, Los Carinos Elementary School, 6^th grade

Second Place:                        Ariel, Los Carinos Elementary School, 2^nd grade

Third Place:                        Leandra, Los Carinos Elementary School, 3^rd grade