Farmers Markets are Perfect Summer Stop

By Julia Lucey

With many local businesses now up and running, a great way to show support for our Connecticut based vendors is by visiting the town’s farmer’s markets and farm stands. Greenwich has two weekly markets: the Greenwich Farmers Market and the Old Greenwich Farmers Markets and plenty of farm stands including Versailles Farm — each is a welcoming spot to enjoy a beautiful summer’s day while getting some grocery shopping done in the process. Products are almost always locally grown and produced, something you just can’t find at a conventional supermarket! Not only that, but these farmer’s markets provide an experience beyond simply shopping for food — they’re a lively and fun way to interact with and support the community.

First is the Greenwich Farmers Market, which has been providing fresh produce and other goods to the community for over 30 seasons. The Greenwich Farmers Market can be found at the Horseneck Lane Commuter Lot (2 Horseneck Lane) on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 1 pm. Free parking is available during market hours.

There is a wide range of vendors that come to set up their tents and sell their goods each week. It wouldn’t be a farmer’s market without locally grown fruits and vegetables, of course, and the market is well equipped with both. Farming 101 from Newtown, CT sells beautiful heirloom tomatoes, while Riverbank Farm, a farm based in Roxbury, CT, supplies an impressive selection of organic vegetables, from carrots to kale, zucchini to squash, and so many more stunning choices. Also on the vegetable front is Two Guys from Woodbridge, who specialize in salad greens, herbs, shoots, microgreens, and edible flowers to be put together for creative salad mixes. If you’re a mushroom fan, check out Seacoast Mushrooms grown in Mystic, CT. For fresh fruits, check out Woodland Farm (Glastonbury, CT) for gorgeous peaches, plums, blueberries, raspberries, and other delicious fruit choices.

The farmer’s market is also a great spot to find some farm fresh meat — be it beef, chicken, or fish, the Greenwich Farmer’s Market has an option for you. The Four Mile River Farm, based in Old Lyme, CT, has a selection of beef and pork to offer, as well a list of other prepared foods, like chili and sausages, made exclusively from their beef and pork products. In addition, Sankow’s Beaver Brook Farm (Old Lyme, CT) is ready to provide you with your lamb and chicken needs, as well as remarkable cheeses and a number of prepared foods. For seafood products, the Local Catch from Narragansett, RI sells shellfish such as scallops and oysters, as well as fish such as tuna, halibut, and more.

Moreover, keep an eye out for a variety of other tents selling other unique and local produces. The Herb Basket, for instance, makes different jams, jellies, and more out of Connecticut-grown produce, and Moorefield Herb Farm, from Trumbull, CT, provides herbs, succulents, and other beautiful plants. Lebanon, CT’s Sugar Maple Farm brings maple products, numerous honey products, as well as horseradish to the market, as well! For a full list of vendors and their contact info, visit greenwichfarmersmarketct.com.

To make your shopping experience as seamless as possible, a selection of vendors are also offering a preordering option via the market’s website. Vendors participating in the preorder process include: The Herb Basket, Two Guys from Woodbridge, Four Mile River Farm, Farming 101, and Moorefield Herb Farm.

In response to Covid-19, the market does currently have a few regulations in place to ensure customers and vendors can enjoy a safe shopping experience. First, it is asked that only 2 family members enter the market at a time. In addition, masks are required while at the market and customers should practice safe social distancing. There is a clearly marked entrance and exit so traffic flows in one direction through the market.

Another market to pay a visit to this summer is the Old Greenwich Farmer’s Market, which operates every Wednesday from 2:30 to 6 pm in the parking lot of Living Hope Community Church (38 West End Avenue). Open for its 10th season this summer, the OG Farmer’s Market sells exclusively CT grown products, giving you the perfect opportunity to shop and support local businesses!

Upon entering the market, you’ll find yourself in a lively, charming environment, with sounds of music playing and customers and vendors chatting filling the air. Vendors’ tents fill the back end of the parking lot directly next to the church’s backyard. While you’ll see a little bit of overlap in OG and Greenwich market vendors, the selections vary largely, so your trip to each market will surely provide you with a different experience and a wide range of choices! While vendors are subject to change and may not be exactly alike each week, here are a number of options you may see when visiting the market (a complete list of vendors can be found online at oldgreenwichfarmersmarket.com).

You’ll see Riverbank Farm at this market once again with their selection of organic vegetables grown in Roxbury, CT, as well as Woodland Farms and their beautiful fruits! Also supplying wonderfully fresh fruits and veggies to the market is Smith’s Acres, based in Niantic, CT.

If you’re looking for some desserts, the OG Farmer’s Market is well equipped to satisfy your sweet tooth. One vendor to check out is Silvia’s Kitchen — they bake an array of desserts from scratch, from cookies to cakes and many Latin-American inspired treats, including alfajores, brigadeiros, and many other impressively eye-catching pastries. You’ll also find the SoNo Baking Company from South Norwalk, CT. SoNo Baking Co. serves an assortment of baked goods and cakes, ranging from various breads, pastries, tarts, and more. Finally, be sure to stop by the Bees Knees Ice Pops after you’ve finished shopping for the most delicious and refreshing popsicles made only from whole food ingredients — raw fruits and vegetables, herbs, and natural sweeteners.

Based right here in Riverside is Jackie’s Empanadas on the Go — their artisanal empanadas simply can’t be found at a supermarket! The handmade empanadas are sold frozen with easy baking instructions, and flavors range from meat options like beef and tuna, to veggie and non-meat choices such as cheese or spinach. New to the market is Maia Yogurt, a greek yogurt company selling all your favorite yogurt flavors — only with less sugar and 100% grass fed cows milk. Finally, while not edible, another regular at the market is Jack’s Knife Sharpening, a veteran owned business dedicated to keeping chefs’ and individuals’ cutlery in top form.

In order to keep customers and vendors safe, the OG Farmer’s Market requires anyone entering the market space to wear a mask and practice proper social distancing protocol. In addition, be aware that the church and playground are closed to the public.

Greenwich is lucky to have two wonderful farmer’s markets every week full of hardworking businesses local to the Connecticut area. Next time you find yourself running low on produce or are just looking for a new summer activity, stop by a Greenwich farmer’s market!

And do not miss our town’s many local farms including Versailles Farm, a market garden using French intensive methods.  They grow for flavor, nutrition and good health. This farm stand, located at 56 Locust Road, offers wholesome fresh produce to our neighbors and the community.

Stand out features include their outstanding local honey and right now: the antioxidant super food: blueberries. See our blueberry pie recipe on page 14.

Versailles Farm is only open on weekends starting at 9am so plan accordingly and say hello to Ingrid and Steve while you are there.

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