BRATTLEBORO — Vendor applications are now being accepted for the fifth season of the Winter Farmers' Market at the River Garden in Brattleboro. Space for new vendors is limited but interested parties are encouraged to submit an application prior to the Sept. 1 deadline.
The Winter Market opens on Nov. 6 for the 2010-11 season and will be open every Saturday from Nov. 6, 2010 through March 26, 2011 for a total of 20 markets. There will be no market on Christmas Day, however a special Christmas Eve Day market is being planned for Friday, Dec. 24 and there will be a New Year's Day market on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011.
The regular hours for the Winter Farmers' Market will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with hours extended to 3 p.m. for the three weeks prior to Christmas.
Preference is given to regional agricultural vendors in keeping with our mission to support local agriculture by providing a viable off-season direct market outlet while building community and promoting regional sustainability.
A wide array of products are typically offered including locally grown and produced fruits, vegetables, baked goods, local wines, handcrafted items such as clothing, jewelry, pottery, soaps, lunch menus and more.
This is a juried market. New or returning vendors who were not juried for the 2009-10 WFM season or the BAFM 2010 season, or returning vendors with new items for sale at the market will need to bring samples to Jury Night on Wednesday, Oct. 6. 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 has formed a Sustainability Committee to implement our new local food policy. The committee will work with prepared food vendors on increasingly sourcing products from local and regional growers and producers. This committee will also look at other ways the market can reduce or eliminate waste and increase the our overall sustainability.
The Winter Farmers' Market is a project of Post Oil Solutions (POS), a citizen group based in Windham County seeking to advance cooperative, sustainable communities due to our concerns about global climate change and the end of cheap oil. Their goal is to raise awareness about sustainable practices for our homes, neighborhoods, and larger communities,and begin creating the infrastructure needed in the 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, send in an application before Sept. 1. For an application or more information, call market manager Sherry Maher at 802-869-2141 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. The application and market policy information can also be found at www.postoilsolutions.org from the Winter Farmers' Market link.