As the temperatures drop, many local farms remain active, stretching the seasons as long into winter as possible. With the holidays within sight, local farms continue raising meat and eggs; producing milk for dairy products; storing apples or pressing them for cider; harvesting fall crops including winter squashes, potatoes and carrots; packaging gifts of maple syrup and honey; or growing cooking greens and lettuces for fresh food that stretches between the seasons. Our region’s winter farmers markets are a celebration of the robust offerings from local farms, even when fewer crops are visible in the fields.
Brittni Robidoux is the market manager for the Belchertown Farmers Market, during the high growing season and in winter. She explains that a lot of summer vendors come out for the winter markets. Robidoux said, “The vendors add their own flair to their booths for the holidays, with decorations, ornaments or wreaths.” This festive and fun setting provides the perfect backdrop for shopping locally for ingredients for holiday meals or gifts.
Robidoux notes, “I think people are looking for holiday meals, and we do a pretty decent job of providing local ingredients. We have pork, chicken, lamb, mushrooms, maple syrup, honey and wintery squashes.” Some of the farms selling at the market include Livingstone Mycology (mushrooms), Golden Goose Geoponics (meat and eggs), Forest Road Apiary (honey), Shattuck’s Sugarhouse (maple) and more.
Market shoppers can purchase baked goods and prepared foods as well. She adds, “We have Oak and Ash Farm, who bakes sourdough bread, croissants and cookies with local ingredients.” Whether to eat on site or to take home, Auntie Elsie sells her Oatmeal Crisps and cookies. P’Frogi sells pierogi and hand pies.
“I feel there’s a lot of people looking for hostess gifts,” Robidoux said. Bramble and Blooms sells flowers and botanicals, Cold Spring Soapery offers goat milk and coconut milk soaps, and Barton Beeswax sells candles to make gift giving easy this season.
No matter whether the focus for shoppers is food or for artisan crafts and gifts, community remains the primary attraction. The Belchertown market accepts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program (HIP). Shoppers go to vendors and shop, then bring a slip to the market manager’s booth to process payment from their cards.
The state HIP program increases food access while supporting local farms. Shoppers choose fresh, local produce at an authorized farmers market or farm stand and use their SNAP card to pay for it. Cardholders are awarded $40, $60 or $80 as a rebate on their EBT card per month of fresh produce, depending on household size. When shoppers have a minimum of $.01 on their EBT card, they can access their HIP — even if the federal government shutdown persists. Additionally, some market vendors accept coupons for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children).
This year, Robidoux worked with community businesses to provide a SNAP match for the markets for the summer and winter markets. Robidoux cultivated almost 20 sponsors to increase people’s SNAP purchases by $10 per visit, extending benefits for users in the program. The program is available for both winter markets this season. She said, “It’s been a long time in the making, and I’m glad we’re able to offer the SNAP match this year.”
“We try to be a resource for the community at the market. Throughout the season, we partner, we collaborate with as many groups as we can. Over the season, we have the library, Together Dog Rescue, addiction education and more,” Robidoux said. “I think it’s important to have a tight-knit community, and I feel Belchertown does a good job with that in general. I feel passionately about the market and building relationships with our community as a place for families to go and get what they need.”
She continued, “In the past, we have done canned food drives or canned toy drives for the winter markets. I am still planning these. During the summer, we work with the Belchertown Family Center to provide family activities, and we are exploring what we can offer for these winter sessions, when our space is more limited.”
These winter markets bring cozy season tastes and smells indoors, where holiday shoppers buy local products and soak up the warmth of vibrant community. Robidoux said, “I’m very passionate about shopping local and knowing where your food comes from. I think it’s so fun, to get to know who provides that food for you. It’s building relationships with them and the customers. I feel we’ve built a great community. There’s a lot of care that goes into it. I love bringing people together for those four hours on Sundays.”
In her fourth year, Robidoux’s passion is audible. She said, “It’s my favorite. I just love it. When you think about shopping locally for food and gifts, you’re providing stability for a family. Every one of our vendors has a family they provide for, and this is a chance to learn a bit about them too.”
The Belchertown Winter Farmers Market opens for two special dates, Sunday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This indoor market takes place at the Jabish Brook Middle School, 62 North Washington St. in Belchertown. The market accepts the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program (HIP). For more information, see the market’s Facebook page or website, https://belchertownfarmersmarket.weebly.com/.
These community sponsors made the SNAP match program possible this season: A Healing Touch Therapeutic Massage, Alden Credit Union, Beers & Story Funeral Homes, Belchertown Historical Association, Bell & Hudson Insurance Agency, Country Bank, Devon Lane Farm Supply, Don’s Auto Service, Belchertown Day School, Jim & Marianne Gambaro, Hampshire Meadow Family and Pediatric Dentistry, McCarthy’s Pub, Poissant & Neveu Real Estate Team, Station 5 Salon, Teddy Bear Pools & Spas, and Window World of Western MA.
Lisa Goodrich is a communications coordinator for Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA). To find a winter farmers’ market near you see CISA’s online guide at buylocalfood.org.