Market Leadership

Meet a few of the folks that keep the market humming

Market Steering Committee

Indian Line Farm

Elizabeth Keen came to farming via social justice work in Guatemala, a 1000 mile bike tour through New England and an unexpected stop in Great Barrington where she found Mahaiwe Harvest CSA and her now husband Alex Thorp.  Twenty-two years later she and Al, in addition to two children, have transformed Indian Line Farm, the site of the original Community Supported Agriculture farm in the US, into a thriving community resource for local food.  Al and Elizabeth are committed to the productivity and fertility of their land, nourishing themselves, their soil, and their community.  They stand behind all they do.

Elizabeth was recently appointed by Governor Charlie Baker to be on the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture.  Elizabeth is also committed to the Berkshire agricultural community and recently co-started a group called Famers Gather. Elizabeth loves walks with her lovely springer spaniel, Luna, going to Crossfit during the winter months, being crafty with friends and skiing with her family.   She also really enjoys listening to audio books while driving to and fro picking up and dropping off kids.  

Markristo Farm

Christa and her husband Martin (and 3 children) have been farming in the Berkshires since 1990. Together they cultivate 30 acres of organic vegetables, bedding plants and specialty cut flowers, for both wholesale and retail customers, and have been an integral part of the Great Barrington Farmers' Market since the beginning! When not at market, Christa focuses much of her time on growing and designing flowers for special events (under the name BridleWood Blooms), as well as overseeing the day to day care of raising and training horses on their second farm, BridleWood Dressage.  

Deb is one of three women who own and operate Justamere Tree Farm. Before purchasing the farm, Deb had a long career in wildlife conservation. Making sustainable products directly from the land and giving back to the community is her perfect next chapter. She believes that private landowners and sustainable agriculture play an integral role in conservation and is grateful to be a part of the local food community.

Photo is of Kelly, Deb, Kim from left to right.

Tess Diamond Stafford runs North Plain Farm with her partner, Sean Stanton. Tess and Sean raise 100% grass fed beef, pastured pork, chicken, eggs, select vegetables and operate a 100% grass-fed dairy. In conjunction with running the farm, Tess is an environmental and food-systems educator. You can find her taking orders for grilled sausage and running after her two young children at the Great Barrington Farmers Market every Saturday. 

Hosta Hill

Maddie is a Berkshire native who grew up in West Stockbridge and travelled after high school working on farms and homesteads before settling back in the Berkshires for the second chapter in her life. In the Spring of 2011 Maddie co-founded Hosta Hill with her partner Abe when noticing a lack of fermented foods in the Berkshires. They've been growing the business together since, producing a line of locally sourced fermented vegetables. She loves creating art, food and medicines and dabbles in various crafts. She has spent the winter darning socks, felting wool, eating healthy amounts of cheese and chocolate and raising her 8 month old son. Swimming in the cool Berkshire waters is what gets her through the heat of the summer. Maddie and Abe live in West Stockbridge with their son Elden, dog Oso and cat Buzz.