By Tyler R. Morrissey
As our nation becomes more health conscious, Americans are searching for locally grown, organic produce and food products more than they have in years past. While there are plenty of choices as to where you purchase your produce, there is nothing like the experience you have when you take a trip to your local farmers market. What has become a summertime tradition for many, farmers markets are filled with local vendors selling food they grew themselves or handmade products. By shopping at your local farmers market, you are supporting local business in your community, while also putting the highest quality ingredients on your kitchen table. Below are just a few popular farmers markets in the communities we service.
Westchester County
From April 7th to November 17th the Pleasantville Farmers Market in Pleasantville, New York, is open for its outdoor season on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Experience the largest, year-round farmers market in the center of Westchester County, in a beautiful, historic walking village. The market is perfectly positioned on your way to destinations in Westchester County, or better yet it can be a destination itself. For the past four years, Pleasantville Farmers Market has also been voted “Best of Westchester” by the readers of Westchester Magazine. The market’s 55 new and returning farmers and food artisans bring healthful, regionally produced foods to the community.
Fairfield County
A staple in Westport for over a decade, the Westport Farmers Market has been providing fresh, local and healthy food to the community and beyond. Founded in 2006 by the legendary actor Paul Newman and chef Michel Nischan, the Westport Farmers Market opened for business in the parking lot of the Westport Country Playhouse with just 14 vendors. After moving to their current location at 50 Imperial Avenue in 2009, the market has grown to 45 vendors offering everything from organic food to yoga and chef demonstrations to food trucks. The market runs from May 17th to November 8th on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Connecticut Shoreline
The Connecticut Shoreline is well known for its marinas and boating amenities, but it’s also home to many farms and a booming agriculture business. One of the larger markets on the shore is the Stonington Farmers Market, which has served the community for over 20 years. The enormously popular market attracts residents from town and the surrounding communities who come to buy fresh, healthy and locally produced food. In 2008 the Stonington Farmers Market became a year-round event, moving inside during the winter months. Items sold at the market include locally grown vegetables and fruits, jams, a variety of breads, pies and baked goods, as well as cheese, eggs and meat. Held on a field adjacent to the town docks, the summer market is held each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., May through October.
Hartford County
A few miles from the state capitol is the town of West Hartford, whose farmers market is now in its 26th year. At the corner of LaSalle Road and Arapahoe Road, the same group of dedicated farmers who began this market in 1992 offer the security of knowing where your food comes from and who grew it. In addition to traditional farmers market produce, vendors include Howard’s Bread, which sells artisan breads using centuries old French baking standards, and Chet’s Italian Ice, which features handmade Italian ice using real fruit. The market is open from April to June on Saturdays and from June to October on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Litchfield County
Litchfield County offers some of the most bucolic landscapes in all of Connecticut, and it’s also home to one of the 50 best farmers markets in the country according to Cooking Light magazine. The Farm-Fresh Market was created in 2007 with 15 local vendors, and has grown over the years to become a staple of the Litchfield Hills community throughout all seasons. The market is a community-based program focused on sustainable, local food systems that are respectful of the environment, while providing some of the freshest food in the Nutmeg State. The Farm-Fresh Market is also a program of Sustainable Healthy Communities, a public charity focused on promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles in the Northwest Hills section of the state. Farm-Fresh Market’s outdoor season begins this Saturday at the Center School parking lot in Litchfield, Connecticut.
Berkshire County
In the Berkshires of Massachusetts, agriculture is also a major industry and huge part of numerous local communities. The Lee Farmers Market is entering its fourth season, and most of last year’s vendors will be returning in 2018. Popular vendors include Tyringham based Curtin Maple Products, which sells homemade maple syrup and maple cream, as well as Jaeschke’s Farm, which offers vegetable and flowering plants, native produce, jams and baked goods.
