Return of the Farmers’ Markets
Publication: Shore Publishing
When Chris Vaiuso's great-grandfather started the family business in 1927, produce was its bread and butter. Fast-forward 85 years, and Branford's Vaiuso Farms can no longer rely solely on lettuce and tomatoes to pay the bills. Plant and flower sales now account for the bulk of the business's profits. But, participating in area farmers' markets during the summer months allows Chris Vaiuso to connect with his great-grandfather's legacy, and to contribute financially in what is typically Vaiuso Farms' slower season.
"It's a time of year that we don't have income coming in from other places-[most of our income] comes from selling plants, wholesale and retail...During the Christmas season we do a lot of cemetery pieces, poinsettias," says Vaiuso, who serves as market master for East Haven's Farmers' Market and who also participates in Milford's downtown market. Selling produce at seasonal farmers' markets "fills a gap in our year when otherwise we wouldn't have anything, and it's how we started, too-with produce...It's been good for us. It's helped us make growing vegetables profitable."
And area farmers can use all the profit they can get this year. Long-term power outages and flooding from last fall's Tropical Storm Irene, combined with unpredictable weather this winter and spring, have wrought havoc on crops.
Kingsley Goddard's family runs Barberry Hill Farm in Madison. He also serves as the Madison Farmers' Market's market master. Goddard says of Irene, "It was a real knockout for us, as we are within a mile of the coast. All of the salt spray carried into our fields and three days later nearly all of the crops were dead. We are still repairing and cleaning up from wind and tree damage."
Vaiuso Farms also felt the devastation.
"We lost power for a while and lost a lot of produce...and the field flooded and we lost quite a bit [of crops]," Vaiuso reports.
This season, one market will be stepping up for the second year to help combat these losses-and its location might surprise you.
You'll find everything from produce to jam to home-baked pies and breads-not to mention hand-crafted jewelry and countless other artisanal items-every Sunday from June 24 through Sept. 9 at the Tanger Outlet Center in Westbrook.
"It was conversations with people in town and the fact that Westbrook didn't have a farmers' market" that inspired Tanger to open one for the community, says Assistant General Manager David DelVecchio. "We named it the 'Westbrook Farmers' Market' because we really wanted it to be the town's."
Adds DelVecchio, "A lot of places charge pad fees for [farmers and vendors] to come on site. All we ask is that they have insurance, and that's our contribution...We're happy to help our local businesses...We just want our customers to enjoy these offerings, and we want these guys to make money-that's the whole goal: to make it worth their while to come here."
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Local Farmers' Markets
Be sure to check out our farmers' markets map at www.Zip06.com/farmersmarket, for a full listing of area farmers’ markets. Here are some of the highlights:
Essex Farmers’ Market
The Essex Farmers’ Market sets up on Main Street, behind the Griswold Inn, on Fridays between 3 and 6 p.m., June 15 to Sept. 2.
Chester Sunday Market
Sundays from June 17 through Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the market takes over the quaint, picturesque downtown village. Vendors include Beltane Farm, Cato Corner Farm Cheese, Dondero Orchards, Four Mile River Farm, The Hay House, Hidden Brook Gardens, Howard’s Bread, Hunts Brook Farm, Kiss My Biscuits, The Local Catch, Mayflower Soaps, Roses Berry Farm, Smyth’s Trinity Farm, Star Light Gardens, Stonewall Apiary, Sweetwater Farms, and Woodbridge Farms. Visit www.chestersundaymarket.com for details.
Old Saybrook Farmers’ Market
Beginning in June, the Old Saybrook Farmers’ Market offers items from vendors like Barb’s Crafts, Killam & Bassette Farmstead, Griffith Parrott Pottery, Shoreline Roasters, Stonington Beef, Meriano’s Bakery, T.A.L.K. Seafood, and many others. This year the market is held on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 30 through Oct. 31. Visit www.oldsaybrookfarmersmarket.com for more details as they become available.
Westbrook Farmer’s Market
Hosted by the Tanger Outlet Center, the Westbrook Farmer’s Market features vendors like Bessette Farm, Lemke Valley Farm, Van’s Jams, Silver Maple Farm, Lounging Lizard Hot Pepper Jellies, Giff’s, Lighthouse Bakery, and many artisans and crafters. The market runs on Sundays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., from June 24 through Sept. 9. Call Tanger Outlet Center at 860-399-8656 for details.
Madison Farmers’ Market
The first market to open for the season, Madison Farmers’ Market welcomed an enthusiastic crowd on May 4, and continues to operate on Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m. on the Town Green through Oct. 5. Visit the market’s Facebook page (search for Madison CT Farmers’ Market) to stay up to date.
Dudley Farm Farmers’ Market
While this North Guilford farm also operates a popular winter market, its summer season opens on June 2 and continues every Saturday from
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through Oct. 27. Market-goers can expect a variety of produce (some organic), baked goods, flowers, grass-fed beef, pasture-raised roasters, free-range eggs, and much more. Check out
www.dudleyfarm.com for details.
East Haven Farmers’ Market
The East Haven Farmers’ Market begins its season on Sunday,
July 8 and runs through Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The market takes over the Town Hall parking lot, offering a variety of items from vendors. For more information, call Carolyn Bradley at 203-710-2760 or
Chris Viauso at 203-444-1373.
CitySeed Farmers’ Markets in New Haven
The non-profit organization CitySeed operates farmers’ markets in New Haven’s Wooster Square (Saturdays, May through December, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.); Edgewood Park (Sundays, May through December, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.); Downtown (Wednesdays, June 20 to Nov. 21, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.); Quinnipiac River Park in Fair Haven (Thursdays, July 12 to Oct. 25, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.); and at the Connecticut Mental Health Center at the corner of Park and South streets in The Hill section (Fridays, July 13 through Oct. 26, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.). For more information, visit Cityseed.org.
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