Many of you are by now familiar with the concept of farmers’ markets – those wonderful, festive events where artists and craftspeople rub shoulders with local farmers offering their straight-from-the-fields produce directly to the folks who will consume it. Fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade baked goods, music, art, crafts and small non-profits all gather once a week, rain or shine throughout the summer and fall.
But until now, that was it. By late fall, the markets had all ended and it was back to the usual sources for food: grocery stores with bland, limp, processed industrial offerings shipped in from thousands of miles away. Healthy local food only seemed to be a warm weather option.
Until now.
Enter the winter farmers’ market. Who’da thunk it – even here in the cold, snowy, gray months of central New York? We currently have two such markets, with more on the way!
Unlike their balmy counterparts of summer, winter farmers’ markets are held indoors with more limited offerings. The markets are generally open once a month, usually on a Saturday in some large venue – a community hall or empty store. While items like fresh greens are not available, root vegetables (like the beets and carrots shown above), eggs, pastured meats, and baked goods are. Depending on the policies of the market, you may even be able to place advance orders.
Winter markets help support local farms and farmers during the leanest months of their year when income from sales has traditionally been pretty sparse. Now, year-round markets combined with CSA subscriptions help keep them afloat until summer’s bounty rolls around again.
Is there a winter market near your? If you don’t know, try searching the Locally Grown Network or Local Harvest websites.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you enjoyed this post, please share. Thanks!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the links!! I have been wondering if there was one but hadn’t actively looked yet..and we have one nearby! I am so excited to go! I also found a great pick your own berry farm close to us too =)
Glad you found the links useful. I think eating locally is a movement whose time has come. Even in my area, which isn’t generally on the cutting edge of anything, we’ve got a robust local food movement happening.