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By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
With a month to go, excitement is building for the start of the Putnam Saturday Farmers’ Market.
Emily Barnes, market manager, said “I’m excited for the market season and can’t wait to see our fantastic customers and vendors together once again!”
The market will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June through October at the Riverview Farmers Pavilion on Kennedy Drive.
This will be her first full season as market manager. Already, she said, there is a “great lineup of vendors this year, new and old. We will continue to provide a variety of vendors to our customers, including produce, meats, jams, artisans, plants, non-profit organization informational booths and more.”
She added: “We will also still participate in the IHSP-Daily Bread produce coupon program with their clients, as well as still offer SNAP and debit token payment options.”
Last year, COVID-19 was a monkey wrench that the market gracefully navigated.
“Overall throughout the season,” she said, “I noticed that customers were grateful that the farmers’ market operated at all … despite the challenges that COVID-19 presented to the community. They were happy to shop with and support their local farmers during such a trying time. We implemented new procedures due to the pandemic — masks were required to be worn by all in attendance, shopping was done from the exterior of the pavilion via socially distant lines to each vendor, increased sanitizing practices, etc. Despite these new rules and regulations at the market, I was thankful to see our attendance numbers continue to increase throughout the season.”
Depending on state rules, she said that the “inside-out” model will be followed again this season. “We will certainly re-address it if the pandemic situation changes,” she said.
The market grew despite the COVID-19 challenge. She said there were 11 farmers and food vendors, six artisans, a few non-profit groups and information vendors. The season was extended into November and saw total attendance for all 25 weeks at 7,078 and weekly attendance ranged from 181 to 382 customers.
Barnes said the market did see an increase in usage of SNAP/EBT tokens purchased via the market’s terminal as well as Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons from the state and IHSP Daily Break coupons at the market. She said the uptick was most likely to due to the increased funds provided by the state and the overall generosity of local programs for those in need.
At the end of last season Barnes had said she hopes to offer more activities for customers. In a survey last season she noted that customers were traveling more than 10 miles to attend the market. She said she’d like to see more attendance by those living in Putnam and surrounding towns. “Many do not see the benefit of shopping at their local farmers’ market vs. a large-chair store, and one of my goals for next year (this year) will be to do just that.”
“I can’t wait to see everyone when we reopen for the season!”
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