March 15, 2010 by Heather.

This Saturday there will be two winter farmers’ markets happening. Both Rye and Newmarket will be hosting markets.

Rye’s market will be from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Rye Junior High School, 501 Washington Road. There will be many vendors participating, as you can see by looking at the vendor list, with lots of great things ranging from NH- and ME-made gourmet chocolates and sweets to fresh cut flowers, and all kinds of meats and veggies. This will be Rye’s last winter market. Visit their website for more information.

Newmarket’s market will be from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Stone Church, 5 Granite Street. This market will also have a lot available. From artisan breads and pastries to gourmet mushrooms, as well as the trusty meats and veggies, there’s sure to be something for you. Newmarket has recently added two more markets to its schedule.

Look here to find the remaining winter farmers’ markets before it’s time to kick off the summer schedule.

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March 9, 2010 by Heather.

This summer Wentworth Greenhouses will be holding its summer farmers’ markets on Saturdays. Starting June 26th and running through October 30th, the markets will be held outdoors in the parking lot, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the option of bringing them indoors to one of the greenhouses during inclement weather.  The move to Saturday aligns the markets with the busiest weekend shopping day at Wentworth Greenhouses and builds upon the momentum from last year’s summer markets and the tremendously successful winter markets. Market guidelines and application forms will be available at the Wentworth Greenhouses website shortly. Should you have questions about the markets, or the application process, please call Steve at 603.743.0923.

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February 26, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

Despite power outages throughout the state, The Winter Farmers’ Market for February 27 at Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford is still on.

If you are without power and would like to go someplace warm and get out of the house for a little while, please come to the market.

More information

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February 23, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

We’ve been enjoying the honey crisps we got from NH Cider Works at the last market in Exeter (the cider is long gone, this Saturday we’ll have to buy triple!) and can’t wait to buy more this Saturday the 27th in Rollinsford at the Wentworth Greenhouses. Also joining NH Cider Works with more apples with be Merrill Farm from Londondery and Hackleboro Orchards from Canterbury - the surprisingly sweet and snappy taste of these local apples has been a joy to my tastebuds and I’m excited that these orchards are coming our way to share the benefits of their cold storage!

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February 18, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

New Vendors Invited to Local Farmers’ Markets

New vendors are invited to apply for booth space at the six summer farmers’ markets organized by Seacoast Growers’ Association. The deadline to apply is March 1. Markets are held in Dover, Durham, Exeter, Hampton, Kingston and Portsmouth. The application form is online at www.seacoastgrowers.org.

SGA is especially encouraging new farms to join its group. Currently, the craft and prepared food vendor categories are full. The organization may not be able to accept new craft or food vendors this year, unless several new agricultural vendors are brought in. New farms or small operations often find great success selling produce at the weekday markets.

Membership of Seacoast Growers’ Association consists of 60 percent agriculture, 20 percent craft, and 20 percent food vendors, in accordance with its bylaws. All applications are welcome. If the group is not able to accept a business this year, any paperwork and check(s) will be mailed back to the applicant.

Shoppers at SGA markets appreciate the “SGA Guarantee” that all products sold at market are produced locally. Therefore, participating vendors must produce everything they sell, and their businesses must be based in Rockingham or Strafford counties in New Hampshire or York County, Maine.

Weekly farmers’ markets are held from May to November in Exeter and Portsmouth, and from June to October in Dover, Durham, Hampton and Kingston. In addition to the goods of almost 40 member businesses, farmers’ markets feature at-market demonstrations, workshops and entertainment, plus frequent nonprofit guests.

For more information or to download the application to join Seacoast Growers’ Association, visit www.seacoastgrowers.org.

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February 18, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

From Patti Qua’s farm in Exeter, Maine come Jacob’s Cattle, Calypso, Solider, Yellow Eye, Vermont Cranberry, Swedish Brown, and Bumble Bee beans!

9am-1pm at the Stone Church in Newmarket. More info

The Rye Farmers’ Market will also be open this Saturday, 11am-2pm at the Rye Junior High School.  More info

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February 11, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

Thanks to Denise Landis for an article that does a great job conveying what the winter farmers’ markets are all about!

Food and fun at the Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmers’ Markets
By Denise Landis

One of the best ways to have fun in the Seacoast this winter is to visit an indoor farmers’ market. More than just a site where food is sold, a farmers’ market is lively and cheerful, with free entertainment, much to see and marvel at, and a place where it’s more than likely you’ll run into friends and neighbors. Vendors tend to be chatty and fellow shoppers in an amiable mood. What could be better on a wintry Saturday morning?

I visited the Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmers’ Market on a recent weekend at one of its two locations, the Exeter High School, which alternates with Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford as the market’s site. Although it was a frigid day, there was a fair-like atmosphere even in the parking lot, a steady stream of people hurrying into the warm building, crossing paths with smiling people coming out into the cold air, weighed down with bags. There is ample parking outside the building, but a free service called Veggie Valet offers volunteers who will help carry your bags to your car.

The market opens at 10 o’clock and closes at 2 p.m., and for the best selection, it’s a good idea to arrive before noon. But the crowd, which is bustling without being overwhelming, thins out at around noon, and there is still plenty to see and to buy. People of all ages come to the market, and there is room for wheelchairs and strollers. I’d remembered to bring several canvas bags to carry my groceries, including a Seacoast Eat Local bag I’d bought on a previous visit.

There is a festive atmosphere in the large market, helped by live music, which on this occasion was performed by Jeff Warner, who sang while playing (at different times) banjo, concertina, and spoons, accompanied by Barbara Benn on guitar. He performed a lively mix of ballads, sea chanties, and traditional American tunes while the crowd flowed by, some stopping to watch a while before they moved on.

The happy feeling of the crowd must be partly due to the enthusiasm of the vendors in showing and talking about their products. I spent 15 minutes talking to a farmer about the produce I was buying from him - baby turnips, tiny organic carrots, and long oval red-and-white radishes - and felt a pang of guilt when I paid the small sum it totaled: less than $4.50.

At the stand for New Roots Farm, Jeff Cantara, who owns and operates the business with his wife, Renee Cantara, spoke enthusiastically about their pasture-raised heritage pigs. New Roots Farm produces top-quality chops, bacon, and premium whole-hog sausage, and next year will expand to grass-fed lamb and beef as well as pork.

At the farmers’ market, shopping is easy and feels good for lots of reasons, including the affordable prices of most items. I bought apple-smoked sea salt, cubes of goat meat (destined for curry), and rich dark Grade B maple syrup. A generous wedge of goat cheese with caraway seeds cost $3.50, as did sensational tangy goat-milk chocolate fudge.

Read the full article >

Next market is Saturday February 13th at the new Exeter High School - more details at www.seacoasteatlocal.org

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February 6, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

Great news! Sandwich Creamery and NH Cider Works have signed up for the markets, starting Feb 13. Sandwich Creamery will be bringing their fantastic cow milk cheeses, and NH Cider Works will have apples! We’re at the new Exeter High School from 10am-2pm on the 13th, and the market is overflowing with farmers and fishermen. Check out the full list of vendors >

We’re still hoping that Silvery Moon Creamery will be able to attend as well. A recent change in the management at Smiling Hill Farm (where the creamery is hosted) has caused a lot of changes, including lack of support for selling at farmers’ markets. If you would like to express your desire to see Silvery Moon Creamery continue to come to the markets, you can email info@smilinghill.com

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February 2, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

Congratulations to the organizers and host of Concord’s new winter farmers’ market on the beautiful, welcoming market with lots of great food they hosted this past Saturday. Upcoming markets are scheduled for February 27th and March 27th (also dates of Seacoast Eat Local markets on the Seacoast, so people in multiple parts of the state can have very local food!)

Here’s a great write-up on that market, and you can become a fan on Facebook!

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January 24, 2010 by Sara Zoe.

There’s a new Winter Farmers’ Market in New Hampshire, and it is starting up this Saturday, January 30th, from 10am-2pm inside the greenhouse of Cole Gardens! 19 farmers and food producers are signed up so far, selling everything from eggs, sprouts and greens, honey, cider and apples, meats, composting worms, breads, and more!

Help spread the word! Farmers’ Markets rely on word of mouth for success - if you know of people living in that direction, send an email, give them a call, take a field trip!

Here’s a flyer you can download and print to help - .PDF

For more information, contact Joan O’Connor at joconnornh@yahoo.com

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