It’s been a while since the last newsletter! Market Central, the non-profit that brings you the farmers market you love, has been rockin’ and rollin’ on the waves of the federal grants discord. We don’t rely on any municipal funding, and we don’t have any wealthy benefactors (that’s your cue, Dave Matthews!). So we use a combination of vendor fees and grant opportunities to run this beautiful event. Like many other non-profits, funds that were congressionally appropriated are now eliminated, frozen, or at the very least, uncertain.

Well, Hello Again!

We are three markets into the new year, and it is a pleasure to see familiar faces again. We began 2025 by declaring our commitment to small farmers by holding the market despite snowy forecasts, and it paid off! The sun was shining, and many vendors sold out of food.

It won’t be bikini season anytime soon so keep those coats ready for Saturday mornings (we see you “guy in shorts”). Hold onto your hats, friends, I have news. Althea Bread and Broadhead Mountain Farm are no longer with us (they will certainly be missed!) They will make way for some new vendors in 2025, new farms, cheese, and Indian prepared foods come to mind and we will continue to support new entrepreneurs through the Community Investment Collaborative’s Launchpad program. We look forward to highlighting them during the season. So share the word and bring a friend next time.

In praise of the elastic waistband…

Toward the end of November we begin to settle in for the winter months ahead with celebrations of friendship and thanks. We set our tables with best of the season’s harvest-squashes, greens, root vegetables- and remember fondly those we will see next summer (thinking of you gorgeous tomatoes!). It is also a great time to thank your farmer. It has been a busy season and the weather was not always on their side. Supporting them with your holiday purchases will be a great way to show how much we value them. Some will be finishing up their market season this week, but many will go on through the winter with us. Our last market day is Decemebr 21 so bundle up my friends. We’re in this for the long haul!