Though the food may be fresh and the juice freshly-squeezed, a strong sense of community is equally as important to patrons of New Haven’s Upper State Street Farmers’ Market.
“It’s a great place to run into people from the community,” said Lee Cruz, a New Haven resident who came to the market Saturday with his wife and son. “It’s really as much about what there is to buy as who there is to see.”
What there was to buy yesterday – the first day of the season for the Upper State Street Farmers’ Market – included jams, meat, eggs, breads, popcorn, fruits, vegetables, herbs, flowers, ice cream, soap and even clothing – all made by local bakers, farmers and artisans.
“The diversity of the products will continue to grow,” said Rick Macsuga, marketing representative for the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DoAG). “At one time it was just fruit and vegetables,” he said.
At the Upper State Street Farmers’ Market, the burgeoning trend of "value-added products," as Macsuga calls it, was marked by a performance by a magician, Cyril the Sorcerer, and a Zumba class.
Another aspect to some of today’s farmers’ markets: An earlier start.
“Five years ago, a May market was a rarity,” said Macsuga. “Now it’s a norm.”
There are more than 100 farmers' markets statewide, according to the DoAG's website. Here’s a list of the New Haven area’s farmers’ markets that have been certified by the DoAG:
Stratford Farmers’ Market
Mondays, 1 p.m ‐ 6 p.m. June 27 ‐ October 31; Deluca Field, Main Street
WIC/Senior FMNP Accepted
Thursdays, 3 p.m. ‐ 6 p.m. May 5 ‐ September 8; Town Green, Route 17
WIC/Senior FMNP Accepted
Bethany Farmers’ Market
Saturdays, 9 a.m. ‐ 1 p.m. July 2 ‐ September 17; Airport Property, Route 63
WIC/Senior FMNP Accepted
East Haven Farmers’ Market
Sundays, 9 a.m. ‐ 12 noon July 10 ‐ October 16; East Haven Town Hall
WIC/Senior FMNP Accepted
Hamden ‐ Downtown Farmers’ Market
Fridays, 11 a.m. ‐ 3 p.m. June 24 ‐ October 7; Town Center Park, next to Miller Library, 2663 Dixwell Ave.
WIC/Senior FMNP Accepted
Hamden ‐ Spring Glen Farmers’ Market
Tuesdays, 3 p.m. ‐ 6 p.m. June 21 ‐ October 25; Spring Glen Church, 1825 Whitney Ave.
WIC/Senior FMNP Accepted
Milford ‐ Woodmont Farmers’ Market
Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. ‐ 6:30 p.m. July 6 ‐ September 28; Robert Treat Farm, 1339 New Haven Ave.
Milford Downtown Farmers’ Market
Saturdays, 9 a.m. ‐ 1 p.m. June 11 ‐ October 8; 58 River St., Corner of Darina Place and River Street
WIC/Senior FMNP Accepted
WIC and Senior FMNP stands for Women, Infant and Children and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.
During the certification process, after DoAG officials verify the product area, they go over the programs with farmers and recommend that they offer it to their customers, said Macsuga.
The programs, which are funded by federal and state funds, started in 1989, when Connecticut was chosen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as one of 10 pilot states, said Macsuga. Now, the programs exist in 42 states, he said.
Under the WIC program, a mother with two children can be eligible to receive $45 to spend at a FMNP-certified farmers’ markets during one market season. There are 54,000 people in the state enrolled in this program, said Macsuga.
For the Senior program, a low-income senior who makes at or below $20,147 is eligible to receive $15 to be redeemed at FMNP-authorized markets throughout the state for one market season, said Mascuga.
“It’s a nice idea,” he said. “Connecticut farmers are feeding an at-risk population. It’s a pretty nice concept.”
