eggs, cheese, mushroom, bread and pastries, prepared foods, bever- ages, and flower vendors. As we work with the health department and recruit a greater variety of CT produced food vendors, we will have fewer nonfood booths.
What kind of craft vendors have been at your market? Do you have any future dreams for this market?
Our vendors sell jewelry, body care products, ceramics, textiles, pet accessories and more. We discovered that inexpensive jewelry, body care products, and items related to food (aprons, placemats, etc...) sold the best. As the weather got chillier, mittens and hats were a success. The market never hosted more than one craft and one body care booth on any given market day.
What non-profit organizations have had booths?
Each week the market offered a booth to a local non-profit for them to bring awareness of their mission to the public. Everyone from the Community Garden to the animal shelter to the public library to the local walking and biking trail associations to hunger awareness groups, took advantage of our offer.
Why did you want food trucks at the market? Convenience is everything in today’s society. Everyone mul-
titasks. Providing prepared food as well as fresh farm products at the market makes a Thursday evening shop both a quick weeknight supper and a way to plan for a healthy home cooked meal on the weekend. If kids help select ingredients, they are more likely to want to help with the preparation and to eat the meal.
How is the market in 2016 different from the market last year?
Our food vendors are more diverse and we will have more food sampling to make the shopping experience more interactive. The craft program with the Guilford Art Center is more developed.
I dream that families will shop and cook together. Our families and our land will be healthier.
What are some recipes that you like making with the food you buy from your market?
Last year I learned to roast chicken in my crock pot. The variety of colorful peppers available at the market are beautiful simply roasted or tossed in a pan with a bit of olive oil until hot. Some like them hot and some like them sweet. I kept meaning to take photos of our dinners, but they looked so tasty that they were half consumed before I thought of taking a picture. Many of my favor- ite meals are what I call “shop and chop”. Stir some homemade pesto or herbs into your favorite homemade dressing, add eggs or cheese for protein, a slice of sourdough or sprouted grain bread with pasture raised butter and cinnamon, and presto, a delicious meal! A seasonal fruit with with fresh cream or cheese is an ideal dessert.
Where can people find more information? Do you have a website? Facebook? Twitter? Instagram?
Branford Alps Farmers Market has a Facebook page and Instagram account. website:
AlpsFarmersMkt.org email:
BranfordAlpsFarmersMarket@gmail.com contact: Martha Maguire, Market Manager, 203-494-0227 visit us: at the market - Opening Day June 23rd - 17 Alps Road, Branford, CT 06437 - Thursdays 4-7 PM through Oct 27th. or at the Branford Festival, June 18th on the Branford Green
See ad on page 9.
The market will continue to experiment with ways to reach more clients with food assistance needs. I will distribute market vouchers at CT Food Bank free food distributions centers, for exam- ple. There will be also be a rewards program for “Frequent Farmer” shoppers at the market.
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www.lotuscenter-llc.com 20 Natural Nutmeg - June 2016
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