Nana's cake wins third annual Blueberry Jam
Farm owners celebrate with band, pastry contest and blueberries
Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr.
Posted 8/12/26
Farm owners celebrate with a band, pastry contest and blueberries at Walt’s Farm in Westport on Sunday, during the third annual Blueberry Jam, put on by farm owners Courtney Rocha and Barry …
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Nana's cake wins third annual Blueberry Jam
Farm owners celebrate with band, pastry contest and blueberries
Blueberry Jam hosts Courtney Rocha, owner of Walt's Farm (left) and Carissa Davenport and son, Wren, 3, of Berry Hill Farm pose for a photo during the event on Sunday.
Photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr.
Viper Cut Eyes singer, Liv Dunks (left) and guitarist Mitch Cardoza.
Judge Mary Ann Buckley of Renegade's Rising Bakery takes a bite of Eleanor Petersen's lemon cake with a blueberry jam middle and blueberry frosting. The other two judges are Eva Sommaripa of Eva's Garden (middle) and award-winning pastry chef Emily Luchetti.
Vikki Thomas laughs with friends while listening to a concert by Viper Cut Eyes.
Judge Mary Ann Buckley of Renegade's Rising Bakery takes a bite of Eleanor Petersen's lemon cake with a blueberry jam middle and blueberry frosting. The other two judges are Eva Sommaripa of Eva's Garden (middle) and award-winning pastry chef Emily Luchetti.
Kevin Wilkinson (left), Eleanor Petersen and Leilah Moses hold up their blueberry desserts during the contest.
Eleanor Petersen hands the judges a taste of her Lemon cake with a blueberry jam middle and blueberry frosting.
Leslie Kobrin (left) speaks to judges about her blueberry/cornmeal cake that she made for the contest.
Allison Crooks of Westport and son, Calvin, 6, ready her blueberry dot cakes for the contest.
Leilah Moses holds up her blueberry crisp during judging. She used her mom, Sittoo's, recipe for the contest.
Leslie Kobrin (left) speaks to judges about her blueberry/cornmeal cake that she made for the contest.
Eleanor Petersen's Lemon cake with a blueberry jam middle and blueberry frosting.
Posted
Farm owners celebrate with a band, pastry contest and blueberries at Walt’s Farm in Westport on Sunday, during the third annual Blueberry Jam, put on by farm owners Courtney Rocha and Barry Cohen, and Berry Hill Farm, owners, Carissa and Adam Davenport.
“The Blueberry Jam is a celebration of local agriculture, community, and a lot of blueberries,” said Courtney Rocha. “The Jam grew out of a shared belief that local farms are stronger when we work together. We see ourselves as partners in keeping Westport’s agricultural tradition alive. We support one another, and remind people that Westport is an incredible place to buy locally grown foods and flowers.”
Both couples were selected by the Westport Land Conservation Trust to buy the farms at a subsidized rate to ensure young farmers stay in Westport.
The Jam included live music by local band, Viper Cut Eyes, face painting, a native plant scavenger hunt, and the local popsicle truck, Sorbea. The Jam was free to the public and with limited vendors.
“We want folks to feel like they can come together without feeling the need to buy things,” said Rocha.
The main event of the Jam was the community blueberry baking contest, featuring local bakers from the area, said Rocha.
“Bakers bring their best blueberry creations," She said. "Then a panel of professional judges selected the winners. Afterward everyone gets to taste the entries and cast a token for the people’s choice award.”
Judges, Mary Ann of Renegades Rising, Rick Ferreira, head chef of GoPasta in Wakefield, Eva Sommaripa of Eva’s Garden and American pastry chef Emily Luchetti, chose Bess Moyer Bell's blueberry cake made from her Nana's recipe, as the overall winner. Seven-year-old baker Calvin Crooks, his mom, Allison, and little brother Hugo, won the Peoples Choice award for their blueberry dot cakes.
“Having a seven-year-old baker take home the crowd favorite really captured what we love about this event," said Rocha. “The Jam is meant to bring generations together around local food and agriculture and give the community a chance to celebrate what is grown right here, in Westport.”
Blueberry season has begun to wind down, but Walt’s Farm and Berry Hill Farm are still open. Walt's Farm sells pick-your-own dahlias and also offers flower bars and arrangements for small events.
Blueberry Jam Winners:
2026 Blueberry Jam Winners
1st Place — Bess Moyer Bell
Blueberry Cake, made from her Nana’s recipe
2nd Place — Eleanor Petersen-Rockney
“Zest Quest for Blueberry Bliss” — a lemon olive oil blueberry cake
3rd Place — Leslie Kobrin
Blueberry Cornmeal Cake
And perhaps our sweetest winner of the day:
People’s Choice — 7-year-old baker Calvin Crooks, mom Allison Crooks and little brother Hugo, for their Blueberry Dot Cakes.
