Ellington Farmers Market Enjoys Successful Season Of Giving

The Ellington Farmers’ Markets enjoyed a highly successful outdoor season fulfilling their mission of supporting local farmers, enhancing food security for low income families, empowering children to make healthy food choices and hosting community activities which foster social gathering and interaction. Each Saturday morning market visitors enjoyed special themed events and top-notch musical entertainment.

Consistent with its mission of providing the community with a variety of foods and products that are grown, harvested or produced in the State of Connecticut, the market featured over 40 vendors this summer with many selling their wares every Saturday and others serving as “guest” vendors several times throughout the season.

The market continued its commitment to enhance food security for low income families by distributing over $11,500.00 in matching Senior and WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program vouchers and SNAP benefits so that low income families could double their purchasing power at the market. Market Master Dianne Trueb commented that The Market saw a huge surge in the numbers of financially challenged families being able to take advantage of the market’s matching programs. “People were thrilled to be able to stretch their food purchasing dollars to buy fresh, locally grown produce and other food products at our market and to come and enjoy the atmosphere that we have created for our community. We are delighted that our matching program expanded this year to include seniors and WIC recipients.”

In keeping with its goal to help fight the nation’s childhood obesity epidemic, the market’s educational “POP” program distributed over $1,700.00 to young market patrons who could use a $2.00 token each Saturday to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and taste samplings of fruits, vegetables and salads made from produce being sold at the market.

The Market is on a short hiatus and will have its inaugural Winter Market Season beginning November 23 at the YMCA on Pinney Street in Ellington from 2-4 PM and continuing every other Saturday through March 14th. Two Holiday Extravaganza markets with additional vendors and holiday items will be held on December 7th and 21st. Additional information about the Winter Market can be found on the market’s website at www.ellingtonfarmersmarket.com.