Farmers pg 1 11-18-21
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Last Market
Putnam Saturday Farmers' Market Manager Emily Barnes was dressed for the (Halloween) occasion at the last market for the season. Linda Lemmon photo.
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By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Records fell at this season’s Putnam Saturday Farmers Market and next season looks bright, according to Market Manager Emily Barnes.
“We had a fantastic 2021 market season, with record customer attendance numbers which included newcomers, as well as lots of new vendors. We had our highest attendance in August, with one Saturday reaching 521 total customers for the day!” she said.
That let her know that what the market does is working. The mask mandate being lifted before the season started in the spring allowed the market to “flip” back to its original layout — vendors along the outside edges of the pavilion on Kennedy Drive, facing inward, and shoppers being able to peruse the farmer, artisan and non-profits offerings under cover.
“We would not have been so successful without our fantastic vendors, who are really the most important part! I’d like to thank them for such a great year. And I’d also like to extend a huge thank you to our wonderful customers and the support from the Town of Putnam. Without both of them, the market simply would not be possible and it wouldn’t be the success that it is,” Barnes said.
“I’m very pleased with how this season turned out.”
Barnes, in her second year as manager, said: “supporting non-profit organizations is of utmost importance to me, so this year I was happy to welcome back a few local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops as well as EastCONN, Pluck-A-Duck, and other local organizations. The priority of the Market is to provide a place for local farmers and vendors to sell their products and goods, but we are happy to also assist with other missions of the community where we can.”
The market accepted payment in cash, debit cards, SNAP/EBT cards, FMNP, WIC, and IHSP Daily Bread coupons, “and our customers were thankful for those additional options for payment.”
Barnes added a few new items this year including raffle baskets for National Farmers’ Market Week, and limited-edition reusable tote bags. The bags were free the first Saturday of the season, and were available for purchase after that — the proceeds going to support future market operations. She said, “I’d like to offer similar programs next year, and would love to collaborate with local businesses to possibly offer more raffle baskets which will assist in their advertising.”
She said her favorite part of this market season was getting to know customers and vendors.
While the Putnam Saturday Farmers Market is in hibernation, many of the farmers sell their goods over the winter months, and some also sell at winter markets. If you’d like to contact a specific farmer or artisan, contact Barnes at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The market is also on Instagram and there is a newsletter with all the latest on the market’s website — www.putnamfarmersmarket.org. And while you’re counting the days until the market reopens in the spring, like the market on its new Facebook page — ‘Putnam Saturday Farmers Market’ (no apostrophe on Famers).
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