Vernon Officials Gauging Interest In Farmers Market Revival

VERNON, CT — Municipal officials in Vernon are gauging public interest in bringing back a farmers market in town for the summer of 2023.

Vernon Social Services Director Matt Hellman and Youth Services Director Michelle Hill have done some preliminary research with local farmers markets and community organizations and are now seeking information from the public.

"Having fresh fruits and vegetables readily available to our community benefits our residents and the local farmers who grow those items," Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne said. "As the economic center of Tolland County, it makes sense to have a farmers market here in Vernon."

Hellman said a farmers market would likely be located in the Rockville section of town so that is accessible to people who rely on public transportation to get around. Rockville has had farmers markets in the past, but for a "variety of reasons" they were discontinued, town officials said.

Hellman said he is hoping residents, through their responses to a survey on the town website, can help local officials work with farmers to develop a market that will overcome challenges previous markets faced.

"We know people are passionate about locally grown food, local agriculture, and having a farmers market back in Vernon," Hellman said. "We are hoping those folks, by responding to the survey, can help us develop a plan that will benefit everyone and be successful."

A timetable and what day to have a market need to be worked out, officioals said.

"We don’t want to compete with farmers markets in surrounding towns," Hill said. "We want to give those vendors another outlet here in Vernon, while providing our community with a variety of vendors offering diverse products."

The survey can be found on the front page of the town website, www.vernon-ct.gov.

For people who do not have internet access, copies of the survey can be found at the Rockville Public Library, 52 Union St.