BRATTLEBORO — The Brattleboro Winter Farmers' Market opens its 15th season on Saturday, Nov. 7. It once again is in the C.F. Church Building at 80 Flat St in downtown Brattleboro.
This year, with health concerns related to COVID-19, organizers said they are “putting aside our 'community gathering face' to serve as a critical outlet for local producers that is at the heart of every farmers' market.”
It will be one of the few indoor Vermont farmers markets open for in-person shopping this season, and organizers say it will be “Shop 'n Go” mode, limiting the number of customers in the space at one time, and encouraging customers to move through the market, make their purchases and move on so others can do the same.
They will also be offering a new curbside pick-up option for those who prefer a completely touchless option. Customers can order and pay online for a market order to be picked up on Saturday. Visit www.brattleborowinterfarmersmarket.org for all the details.
Those familiar with the winter market will find it to be a much smaller market this year, with fewer vendors and lots of open space for social distancing.
There will be no cafe space for onsite dining, no live music, and their Kids' Room will be closed, but vendors will still be offering a wide array of locally-grown and locally-produced foods and products.
And, thanks to a few generous sponsors, customers using SNAP food benefits will be able to extend their food budgets with a combination of the Crop Cash program, as well as the market's food boost bucks. Each week, SNAP customers can turn $10 into $30 as long as the funding lasts.