At Rochester's weekly Farmers Market, it rained on their parade, and they loved it!

Harry Weiser, owner of Hackleboro Orchards, of Canterbury, left, and his farmhand River Mathieu enjoy the downpour, while another vendor opts to stay dry during a shower on Tuesday at the Rochester Farmers Market on the Commons. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - Rochester Farmers Market made history on Tuesday.

It got rained on.

"It's the first time we've been rained on in three years," laughed Farmers Market co-founder Jeanne Grover.

Moments before as a summer downpour momentarily stifled the oppressive heat, she had rung the bell at precisely 3 p.m. to start the festivities, mostly to a hint of derision from vendors either hunkered down under canopies or scrambling to shelter their goods from the drenching rain.

Papa Joe Gaudet, storyteller and flutist, strolls the Commons during Tuesday's Rochester Farmers Market.

"This is great," said Harry Weiser, owner of Hackleboro Orchards, of Canterbury, who had brought some of his farm fresh asparagus to the market. Weiser said he and farmhand River Mathieu had been working full bore during the current heat wave and were most appreciative of the 10-minute respite of rain.

The Rochester Farmers Market had about 12 vendors on hand Tuesday offering everything from fresh meat from Our Farm of Springvale, Maine, to fruits and vegetables from McKenzie's Farm of Milton to Spirit Wind Farm of Lebanon, Maine, which produces goat milk, cheese and lip balm and moisturizer.

The market is held weekly every Tuesday through September from 3-6 p.m., and always features entertainment. On Tuesday tranquility reigned as barefoot flutist Papa Joe Gaudet played his laid-back, meditative stylings to an appreciative crowd.

Grover credited a dozen skilled volunteers who work tirelessly to make the Farmers Market a success every week.

She also noted that EBT/Snap recipients can get double the amount of credit when they use their card at the market. So if they spend $20 bucks off their card, they get an extra $20 in vouchers to spend at no additional cost.

"We want them to be getting fresh, wholesome produce instead of frozen or canned," Grover said.