Winter Markets

Put on you woolies, we’re going to the farmers market. People don’t have to give up their fresh local goodies just because there’s a little snow on the ground. In fact, winter markets now account for roughly 24 percent of the farmers markets listed in the USDA national directory, with nearly two thousand operating across the country this year. Of course, markets only have to operate once between November and March to be considered a winter farmers market, with most having found an indoor space to set up in. Still it’s a good opportunity for farmers to generate a little more income, and offers consumers the chance to find locally sourced foods in the off season. I don’t know about you, but I get a much more pleasant feeling thinking about wandering through a winter farmer’s market, picking out fresh ingredients for holiday dishes or handmade gifts for friends and family while sipping on a warm apple cider, than I do thinking about struggling through crowds at a shopping mall. What can you find at a winter market? Well, there’s usually root vegetables, apples, greens, meat, breads, gourds, cheeses, honey, nuts, jams and jellies, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.