caption:
Banana peppers from Woodstock Farms. More photos on page 7. Linda Lemmon photo.

captions, page 7:
Heirloom tomatoes, Unbound Glory Farm, Pomfret
Cucumbers and lemon cucumbers, Unbound Glory Farm
Plum sunflowers, Tiny Acre Farm, Woodstock
Eggplants and peppers, Barton Farms, Hampton

By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — In the blink of an agricultural eye — eight short years — the Putnam Saturday Farmer’s Market grew. So much so that there’s a waiting list for those who would like to take part.
Renee Lasko, who manages the market at the Riverview Pavilion on Kennedy Drive, said when the market started out, they did a lot of programs to get people to come. They assigned space for that, such as a speaker on the master gardener program and more.
As more farmers became a part of the farmer’s market and people started coming, the market didn’t have to put aside space for speakers anymore.
The speakers had served their purpose … there was only room for farmer/vendors. And the customers were coming in.
Currently, Lasko said, there is only a one-and a half slot for guests and vendors are “pretty much on a waiting list.”
Lasko, who runs the market with assistant manager Tim Lasko, said they have about 10 farmers/food vendors who come every week and five that come part time. Food vendors include: Cheese, jams and jellies, honey, local beef and chicken, plants, flowers, bakery items, mushrooms, and more.
In addition the Artisans Corner really got organized a couple years ago, she said, and now each Saturday there is a rotation of local artisans selling their wares including pottery, jewelry, glass creations and more.
Lasko said she sees a change in customers who come to the market. Because they are able to interact with the farmers, they now understand the importance of sustainable farming. “It’s not just about organic. It’s about sustainability,” she said.
“Customers now understand the importance of sustainability,” she said.
The market did have an organic farmer a few years ago. That farmer had experience with the New York state farmer’s market system, which is much more advanced. She “upped the game” of the local farmers’ displays by doing beautiful layouts of her offerings using baskets and multi-levels.
Also helpful to the building success of the Putnam Saturday Farmer’s Market are two voucher programs designed to put fresh fruits and vegetables on the tables of qualifying senior citizens/disabled, mothers with infants and children. There is also a program for those below certain income levels.
The state Farmers Market Nutrition Program includes the WIC program, a combination of state and federal funding, for mothers with infants and children needing a boost.
The program also includes a program to help senior citizens and folks with disabilities within certain income levels. The state does not have the ability to set income guidelines for those programs, she said, so the state uses other income sets, for example those who receive renters or fuel assistance through the Town Hall or those with subsidized housing.
Checks come to the town in booklets with six checks totaling $18. For the senior/disabled program those who received the booklets last July discovered that there was no funding in the state account for them. They could not be used. This summer, the state Department of Agriculture created a grant program for this year only that allows the vouchers to be doubled (combining this year and last year).
Lasko said she’s not betting on the doubling program happening again. She said farmers’ markets are heartened that the state is collecting lots of data on the programs and that the state did not cut the program.
“They (state officials) value this program for seniors and WIC moms. I hope that continues to be the case in years to come.”
Lasko said she would be interested in continuing the doubling program for all. That would require the farmer’s market finding a partner or two in the local community (business and/or organizations) to help support that.
There is also a Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program (SNAP) that helps those with EBT cards (formerly food stamps) buy fresh vegetables, fruit and plants that product food.
Lasko said a few years ago the state had a program to set up wireless payment terminals at the farmer’s market. That allows SNAP participants to run their EBT cards through the terminal to get “x” amount of money (in the form of tokens from Lasko) for the fresh food program.
In addition, the terminal can be used for debit cards.