by Laura Roach

Farmers’ Markets Forever! (or at least year-round)

Farmers’ markets are no longer a seasonal treat thanks to the dedicated volunteers at Seacoast Eat Local. Members of the ad hoc community group are committed to cutting out the middle man when it comes to feeding your family. “When you can have a conversation with a farmer you can have confidence in his practices and know that your dollars are not contributing to the detriment of the environment,” says Sarah Patterson of Seacoast Eat Local. The upcoming farmers’ markets will provide an array of healthy, tasty and local foods.

2009 will be the third year that Seacoast Eat Local has sponsored winter farmers’ markets. Due to the high demand for local food year round, eleven farmers’ markets will take place between November and mid-April, five more events than last year. Shoppers can expect the variety of products they would see at any other farmers’ market and may want to skip going to the grocery store. There will be meats such as elk, beef and duck available as well as vegetables raised in unheated greenhouses. As always a diverse selection of honeys, wines, soaps, jams and maple syrups will be present. Prepared food vendors will be highlighted for their efforts to use local ingredients such as cookie dough that is prepared using all local honey.

The upcoming farmers’ markets:

November 21 – Wentworth Greenhouses, Rollinsford (about 50 vendors are expected)
December 5 – Wentworth Greenhouses, Rollinsford
December 12 – Exeter High School
December 19 – Wentworth Greenhouses, Rollinsford
January 9 – Exeter High School
January 23 – Wentworth Greenhouses, Rollinsford
March 13 – Exeter High School
March 27 – Wentworth Greenhouses, Rollinsford
April 10 – Exeter High School

There will also be a holiday market on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and on the Saturday before Christmas at the Atlantic Culinary Academy in Dover. Residents will be able to make holiday meals with entirely local foods.

The farmers’ markets support the local economy and encourage direct communication between farmers and consumers. Since the food does not need to travel far to get to your kitchen less fossil fuels are consumed in the process of transporting food. Seacoast Eat Local believes winter markets are important in providing people with the most nutritional food and in lessening our carbon footprint.