After a snowy winter and wet spring, we are enjoying farmers’ market season in Vermont! At recent markets that I went to I saw lots of leafy vegetables, tomatoes, beans, peas, beets and more. Can’t wait until the sweet corn is out, too!
The Skimeister and I started our garden a bit late due to an extremely wet May and some early-June travel. But with some recent heat and sun, things are really starting to grow (eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, for example). But I’ve been picking up locally grown organic salad greens and spinach, as well as eggs, at the markets until our garden provides its own goodies.
When you buy local produce that was picked that day, you can be sure it will taste better and stay fresh longer than what you find in your supermarket. Now we are ready to eat some of our own salad fixings — can’t get fresher than that!
Even if you aren’t planning on buying veggies, you will likely enjoy exploring most of Vermont’s markets because they often include prepared food vendors, wine makers, cheese makers and artisans as well. It’s not a bad idea to go to a market hungry!
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture produces a handy <link http: www.vermontagriculture.com buylocal buy farmersmarkets_map.html external-link-new-window>website that has a statewide schedule of many farmers’ markets. The list includies these markets which I selected because they are located somewhere near a Vermont ski resort or ski town that you may be visiting during the summer months:
Northern Vermont Farmers’ Market Schedule In/Near Ski Towns
- Downtown Burlington on Saturdays, 8:30–2 (not too far from Bolton Valley and Cochran’s ski areas)
- Enosburg on Wednesdays, 3-6, and Saturdays, 9-1 (near Jay Peak resort)
- Jeffersonville on Mondays, 8:30-11:30 (right at Smugglers’ Notch Resort)
- Johnson on Tuesdays, 3-6 (near Smugglers’ Notch and Stowe ski resorts)
- Lyndonville on Fridays, 3-7 (near Burke Ski Resort)
- Morrisville on Wednesdays, 3-6:30, and Saturdays, 9-1 (near Smugglers' Notch and Stowe ski resorts)
- Richford on Saturdays, 9-1 (near Jay Peak resort)
- Richmond on Fridays, 3-6:30 (near Cochran’s Ski Area and Bolton Valley Resort)
- Stowe on Sundays, 10:30-3 (near Stowe Mountain Resort)
- Stowe Resort on occassional Fridays, 11-3 (right at Stowe Resort)
- Waitsfield on Saturdays, 9-1 (near Mad River Glen and Sugarbush ski resorts)
- Waterbury on Thursdays, 3-7 (near Stowe, Mad River Glen, Bolton, Cochran's and Sugarbush ski resorts)
- Williston on Saturdays, 10-2 (not too far from Bolton Valley and Cochran's ski areas)
Southern Vermont Farmers’ Market Schedule In/Near Ski Towns
- Londonderry on Saturdays, 9-1 (near Magic Mountain, Stratton and Bromley ski areas)
- Ludlow on Fridays, 4-7 (near Okemo Mountain ski resort)
- Manchester on Thursdays, 3-6 (near Bromley ski area)
- Middlebury on Wednesdays, 9-12:30, and Saturdays, 9-12:30 (near Middlebury Snow Bowl)
- Rutland on Tuesdays, 3-6, and Saturdays, 9-2 (near Pico and Killington ski resorts)
- Townshend on Thursdays, 3:30-6:30 (near Stratton ski resort)
- Wilmington on Saturdays, 10-3 (near Mount Snow ski resort)
- Woodstock on Wednesdays, 3-6, and Saturdays, 9:30-12:30 (near Suicide Six ski area)
Visit that state website to verify details on the time and location. And don’t forget to bring a few bags for your produce, as well as an appetite for a tasty snack!
Photos, top to bottom: Waitsfield Farmers’ Market, Stowe Farmers’ Market, Stowe Farmers’ Market
