Vendor applications are now being accepted for the eighth season of the Winter Farmers’ Market which will again be held at the River Garden in the heart of Brattleboro, VT. Space for new vendors is limited but interested parties are encouraged to submit an application prior to the September 1 deadline.
The Winter Market opens on November 2 for the 2013/2014 season and will be open every Saturday through March 29, 2014 for a total of 22 markets. The regular market hours for the Winter Farmers’ Market will be 10 am to 2 pm with hours extended to 3 pm for the markets between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Preference is given to regional agricultural vendors in keeping with our mission to support sustainable agriculture by providing a viable winter-season direct market outlet for local community-based farms while building community and promoting regional sustainability. A wide array of products are typically offered including locally grown and produced fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, baked goods, local wines, handcrafted items such as clothing, jewelry, pottery, soaps, lunch menus and more.
This is a juried market. New vendors or returning vendors with new craft or prepared food products will need to present their items for jury at 5:00 pm on Wednesday October 2, 2013 at the River Garden. Agriculture vendors selling farm produce do not need to be juried. Any questions regarding the jury process can be directed to Susan Dunning at 802-228-3230.
Additionally, the Market’s sustainability mission places an emphasis on local sourcing for prepared foods sold at the market meaning that prepared food vendors are increasingly sourcing products from local and regional growers and producers. In addition, the WFM continues to look at other ways we can reduce or eliminate waste and improve our environmental footprint.
The Winter Farmers’ Market is a project of Post Oil Solutions, a citizen group based in Windham County, VT seeking to advance cooperative, sustainable communities due to our concerns about global climate change and the end of cheap oil. Our goal is to raise awareness about sustainable practices for our homes, neighborhoods, and larger communities, and begin creating the infrastructure needed in our region for a post oil society. The creation of a community-based food system is a critical component of that infrastructure.
If you are interested in vending at the upcoming Winter Farmers’ Market, we urge you to send in an application before September 1st. The application and market policy information can be found at www.postoilsolutions.org on the Winter Farmers’ Market page from the Food Systems link. For more information call Sherry at (802) 869-2141 or send an email to farmersmarket@postoilsolutions.org.
