Windsor Farmers' Market

Welcome To the Windsor Farmers Market

The Windsor Farmers Market is a year round market located in Windsor, VT.

Our Summer Market runs each week from the end of May to mid October and is located on the State Street Green.

Our Winter Market runs the 1st and 3rd Saturday from December to May and is located at the Windsor Welcome Center, 3 Railroad Avenue.

The Market exists for the purpose of providing a direct marketing outlet for locally produced agricultural products, specialty foods and crafts to the consumer for the benefit of both the consumers and the producers thus supporting the local economy, and to educated the Greater Windsor area public to the availability and benefits of locally produced:

Vegetables and fruits, maple syrup and honey, eggs, meats and other agricultural products.
Baked goods, specialty foods and canned goods.
Crafts, music and other goods from local artisans and producers.

First Market of the Summer Season this Saturday!

The Windsor Farmers Market will have its first summer market this Saturday, May 30 from 11:00am to 2:00pm on the State Street Green. The following vendors will be present: Max & Ozzies will bring bread (Focaccia), fresh eggs, and handmade kitchen towels; Contented Butterfly Farm with farm fresh eggs, USDA inspected lamb meat, and kale; The Backwoods Grove will have fresh catnip and chives and handmade bracelets, Brookhaven will have pickles and rhubarb; Becca's Tasty Treats will have fresh baked goods including breads and sweets. Two new vendors will be here on Saturday: The Tragic Whale sews bags including makeup, small pouches, and pencil bags; Monkey Moon Challah and Catering bakes tasty treats and will be bringing their specialty of chocolate challah. Please note that the listing of vendors may not be inclusive of who will be at the market, nor are the products listed the only ones each vendor will be bringing.

Remember to think local, buy local, be local. When you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms -- continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community.

Windsor Farmers Market Gearing up For Summer 2015

The Windsor Farmers Market is gearing up for the Summer 2015 season.

The recent customer survey helped us to find out exactly what our customers and non-customers are thinking about the market. We received lots of good feedback that will be valuable for us to grow and strengthen the market. The results of the survey suggested a few changes. The changes are that the market will now be on Saturdays, remaining on the State Street Green and be between the hours of 11am and 2pm. We truly hope that these changes will increase the vendor participation as well as increase the shoppers to the market.

The Market Board has distributed summer season applications to our current and previous vendors. If you are, or know someone who is interested in joining the market as a vendor, please note the vendor information link above has the current summer 2015 application as well as the current rules for the market. If you should have any trouble downloading/opening/printing these documents, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to either have copies available for you to pick up at a convenient location, or can snail mail them to you.

Our first Summer market on the green will be on Saturday, May 30th and the season will run until Saturday, October 17th. We hope to see you all then!

Last winter market of the season is approaching

The last winter market of the season is approaching. It will be held on Sunday, May 4th at the Windsor Welcome Center from 11:30 - 2:30 pm. Come stop by and check out the items for sale.

This also means that the summer market isn't too far behind. Please check the vendor information area for up to date information about Vendors signed up for the summer market as well as an application and the rules of the market. We're getting excited to have the market back on the green.

The summer market is comming ...

Our summer market is sneaking up just around the corner. If you or know someone who is interested in joining us this summer, just check out the Vendor Information link at the top of the page. We've uploaded the new 2013 summer market application as well as market rules.

Hope to see you all at the market!

December 16th Market

December 16th will be our third market of the season and the last market just before the holidays. We have quite a few vendors selling items that would make lovely gifts for the people on your list.

Here's a list of some of the vendors and the items they will have:

The Vittle Stop BBQ - prepared foods ready to eat at the market
Honestly Simple Soaps - soaps, lotions, etc with lots of different scents
Contented Butterfly Farm - eggs, dog biscuits, apple pie filling, yarn and wool crafts
Nada's Notes and Photos - photographic notecards and photos
Brookhaven - prepared foods ready to be heated up at home, upcycled pillows and notebooks
Raycin Farm - baked goods and prepared foods ready to eat at the market
Max & Ozzies - handmade crafts including sewn dog beds and crocheted items
Green Mountain Flour - their own ground flours and prepared pizzas ready to eat at home
And much more!

December 2nd Winter Market

The Market will have the following farms/businesses with these wares:

Honestly Simple Soaps - Soaps, lotions, body sprays, etc.
Max and Ozzies - dog beds available
Thompson Goat Farm - Goat milk soap, eggs, canned goods, etc.
Contented Butterfly Farm - Eggs, wool yarn, handmade items from wool, etc.
Nada's Notes - Notecards and photos
Brookhaven - pillows, handmade note pads, pickles, dilly beans, prepared foods
The Vittles Stop BBQ - Hot meals ready to eat
Raycin Farms - Baked goods, pulled pork, etc
ZB's Bakery - Baked goods
Joe Bliven - Whirligigs, birdhouses, bird feeders, and other wooden items
Alice Bliven - Knit hats, scarves, knit baby clothes, etc.
And Much More!

First Winter Market

Our first winter market was on Sunday, November 18th. Here's a sampling of what you would have seen had you attended. Don't fear ... there will be more markets as we will be at the Windsor Welcome Center every 1st and 3rd Sunday until the end of April.

Cecile working the managers booth

A view down the booths

Honestly Simple Soaps with their bath and beauty products.

Daniella working the Green Mountain Flour table

Nada of Nada's Notes showing some customers her notecards.

The Vittles Stop BBQ had some delicious foods to eat.

ZB's Bakery and their handmade goodies.

Raycin Farm's table of goodies and local foods.

Connie of Thompson Farm with their goat milk soaps, chevon meat, and canned goods.

Jerry and LucyLee of Brookhaven with their homemade take home meals and crafts.

Tim of Contented Butterfly Farm with their farm's wares.

Max and Ozzie's handmade dog beds.

Dog Days come to Windsor Farmers Market!

Join us and Lucie Mackenzie Humane Society on the green this Sunday, August 19th from noon to 3pm. Check out current animals looking for homes, enjoy a free concert, Free New Hampshire Peaches while they last. Stop in and find out how you can help our local humane society.

Market movers are corn, tomatoes, cukes, and pickling cukes by the bushel. Other items available at the market include: jewelry, baked goods, canned cheesecakes, wood turned items, goat milk soaps, hand stitched pillows and much more.

Farmers Market Film Challenge

August 5-11 2012 is the 13th annual National Farmers’ Market Week. During National Farmers’ Market Week, NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) invites you to join us in celebrating the healthy food, economic value, and community importance of Vermont’s markets.

It's time....for the 4th annual Farmers' Market Film Challenge! Create a short (10 minutes or less) film to show us why you love your local farmers market.

Videos uploaded to YouTube by August 1^st will be entered into the competition. Judges will award videos that creatively encourage viewers to visit their local farmers' markets.

To add videos to the YouTube page, go to www.youtube.com

Click “Sign In” in the top right hand corner and enter the following username and password.
Username: NFMWfilmchallenge
Password: iwanttowin
Click “My Channel” on the left hand side
Click “Videos”
Click “Upload a Video” then “Select files from your computer” and upload your video!

You can learn more about YouTubes format requirements here.

Prizes will be announced soon!

For contest rules and prize details, click here.

Help Windsor Farmers Market Be America’s Favorite Farmers Market!

It’s summertime and that means two things:

1) There are loads of delicious farm fresh produce available at Windsor Farmers Market every week; and

2) American Farmland Trust’s America’s Favorite Farmers Markets™ contest has kicked into gear and we need your votes to win!

The process is simple. To vote for our market, all you have to do is:

1.) Go to www.farmland.org/vote

2.) Type in Windsor Farmers Market and,

3.) Click “Vote”

That’s it. That’s all it takes to bring Windsor Farmers Market one step closer to being America’s favorite farmers market!

Want to support multiple markets in Vermont? Search by state and you can vote for more of your favorites - just remember, you only have one vote to cast per market!

According to American Farmland Trust (AFT), the purpose of this contest is to re-connect local consumers to local farms, with the ultimate goal of keeping our nation’s farm and ranch land productive and healthy! Buying at the farmers market keeps money in the local community and helps farms and ranches remain economically viable. By voting, you’re helping support farms and communities across the nation. As American Farmland Trust says, “No Farms No Food™!”

So don’t forget to vote for Windsor Farmers Market at www.farmland.org/vote and spread the word! Big thanks to everyone who has already voted!

Opening Day at Windsor Farmers' Market

Here is a sneak peek of the goodies and gatherers at the Market this season.

Tim and Jen of Contented Butterfly

Luffa grown right here in Windsor!

Jerry and Lucylee offering yummy take home food and creative upcycled gifts

Eleanor and Dondon's Turkish Food

Marie's jewelry and baked goods

Cindy of Raycin Farms

Take home or eat out from Raycin Farms local pork and farm fresh meats!

You'll find a special assortment of sauces, salsa and treats at A Little Bit of Barb

Don't miss the great shots from Nada's Notes

Longtime patron of the Market, Gail and board member Steve (also of Mountain Skyline Farm)

Karen with beautiful Mountain Skyline Farm flowers

Connie with her tasty treats at Thompson Goat Farm

Don't forget the luxurious goat milk soaps

A new addition to the Farmers' Market family...Kristen, with her delicious breads and mini pies and pastries!

The finest sock cozies in town at Contented Butterfly!

Please come down to the market. This year we are open Sundays, from 12-3pm, on the Green!

The market is looking for musicians to join us on Sundays. If you've got the time, we've got the venue!

2012 Application is now available

Please note that the 2012 vendor application is now available. You can either find it under the Vendor Application tab just below the market name or you can find it here.

We're looking forward to lots of vendors of all different types. May 20th - our opening day, just can't get here fast enough!

Some news about the Market in the Eagle Times.

Farmers’ market planning starts with — what else — food

2012-03-09 / Local News
By IAN LORD, Eagle Times Staff Writer

Above: One of the vendos is surrounded by seasonal products at last fall’s farmers’ market in Windsor.

Above: Customers look over some of the wares at a booth. The market will be entering its third year this summer. COURTESY PHOTOS

WINDSOR — Although yesterday would’ve been perfect for an outdoor community event, it’s still a long way off until farmers’ markets pop up throughout the area.

But a lot more goes into the markets than just farmers setting up booths and selling vegetables, and Windsor Farmers’ Market organizer got a jump on this year’s weekly series.

Windsor Town Manager Tom Marsh joined about 20 vendors and farmers’ market board members Wednesday night for a pot luck dinner and a preliminary organizational meeting. Entering the market’s third year in Windsor, organizers were eager to establish a board and begin laying out the ground work for what they hope will be a successful summer.

“The market is essentially still a work in progress,” said Windsor resident and sheep farmer Jen Cary, who served as the market’s treasurer last year.

Cary and others discussed issues the farmers’ market had with the Windsor Improvement Corporation — the non-profit umbrella the market is organized under for insurance purposes — and how to steer away from some of the problems they faced in the past.

As an ex-officio member of WIC, Marsh said that organization has gone through a dramatic restructuring. As a support for Windsor’s community and non-profit organizations, WIC has been reorganized to better serve entities like the farmers’ market, Marsh said.

Taking over as town manager last August, Marsh is a relative newcomer in Windsor and was trying to understand what the market needs to be successful, and where the town can step in to help out. While urging the market board and organizers to do as much of the promotions and work as they can, Marsh said he’ll be available to help out in certain areas.

“There should be good communication, frequently,” he said. “We’ll just work it out.”

Scheduling was a topic that brought a lot of conversation Wednesday night. With the market typically on Sunday afternoons, vendors and board members said they’ve received positive feedback from others about their schedule. With neighboring communities like Cornish and Hartland hosting farmers’ markets on other days of the week, Sunday was discussed as the best opportunity for vendors to set up booths in Windsor.

Starting back up fresh, people volunteered to serve on the farmers’ market board and organizational meetings were scheduled for the next few weeks. Mike Cammock volunteered to serve as the treasurer, citing his experience with accounting software. Jerry Gingras volunteered for the vice-president position.

The board will decide if they want to hire a market manager or if they want to delegate those responsibilities to a number of volunteers and board members.

Windsor Selectboard member Clayton Paronto also joined the meeting, and urged the farmers’ market board to be flexible and to keep an open mind when organizing the market.“Your market is in its infancy,” he said. “You’re going to [This is how the article ended!]

For an electronic version, go to: http://www.eagletimes.com/news/2012-03-09/Local_News/Farmers_market_planning_starts_with__what_else__fo.html

Hurricane Irene

The market will be closed Sunday due to Hurricane Irene. We hope you all stay safe and we will see you next Sunday. Please pass this information along to those who do not have Internet access.

We're in full swing!

The market is in full swing right now. Vendors are bringing the fruits of their labors to the market for you.

Have you been to the market lately? If not, what are you waiting for?

Want to know what you're missing??? Well, there's all sorts of fresh veggies that are coming in now like beets, lettuce, arugula, garlic scapes are finishing up, carrots, herbs, etc. Not looking for veggies, but maybe a dinner or snack? Well, we've got you covered there with quiche, sausage sandwiches, hummus, cookies, breads of all types (from sweet breads like pumpkin to regular white and wheat breads), cupcakes, jams and jellies and other sweets. Looking for some kitchen staples? We've got those too, like eggs and maple syrup. We've also got some nice items for your skin like soaps and body scrubs. How about crafts, you say? We'll we've got those too. There is jewelry, note cards, catnip items, handmade paper (on occasion), pottery, and farmers market t-shirts.

I'm sure I've missed some things, but there is such a variety of items available for you to peruse, so come on by this Sunday from 1-4pm and check it out for yourself.

Coming Soon ... Windsor Farmers Market 2011

Well, the 2010 market was great, and now we're gearing up for the 2011 market. We're hoping it will be a great summer and a great time for socializing with your local artists and farmers. Perhaps a bit of purchasing too?

The 2011 market application is now available. For a copy of this please contact Shelly Jarvis at shellyijarvis@yahoo.com and she'll send you a copy via PDF. We've got membership levels for those who wish to vend, for those not wanting to vend, but wanting to be on the Market Board, and also for those who just want to give their support to the Market.

We're also working on getting a Facebook Page. More information will be given when we've got that in place. For those of you without Facebook, don't worry, we're also planning on having a widget on this blog so that you can see what we're posting there without being a member!

Stay tuned, great things are coming!

Pumpkin Festival is coming up FAST!!

This year any student under the age of 18 who would like to participate in the second pumpkin carving contest are welcome to join us at the Windsor Farmers' Market on Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 12:00 to sign up. And remember, bring lots of adults to come and "judge" the pumpkins! Every vote counts!

Rules for the contest are as follows:

1. You must have decorated the pumpkin yourself. (Carving of child's design is permitted for children under the age of 10 years old).

2. Bring the pumpkin to the Market between 12:00 - 12:30 on October 24th to register.

3. Pick up the pumpkin to enjoy at home at 4 p.m.

Visitors at the market that day are the judges for the contest. The votes will be tallied at 3:30 and prizes will be distributed at that time. It is fun for all who participate.

Ratatouille

Well, this weekend at the market was amazing. Hot, yes, but sunny! I found the most amazing carrots and vegetables at the market (including 1 carrot that weighed 1 pound!), that I went right home and made my version of Ratatouille that (most) of my kids really enjoyed! For those interested here is what I did. I was able to use all fresh from my garden or the market except 4 ingredients (salt, pepper, wine and oil)! Pretty awesome!

Ratatouille

Serves 4 (or those with small children more!)

1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 TBS oil

2 cups carrots sliced paper thin

1 cup green beans, snapped

1 medium zucchini sliced thin

1 cup chopped, peeled tomato fresh from the vine

3/4 cup chopped green sweet pepper

3 TBS dry white wine or water

1 TBS fresh basil, cut up

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper

Cook onion and garlic in oil over medium heat until tender. Stir in carrots, beans, zucchini, tomato, sweet pepper, wine, salt and black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered over medium-low heat about 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Uncover and cook about 5 more minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally. Stir in basil.