Photos: Farmer's Market Opens With Plenty Of Sunshine And Eager Customers

It was one week late due to weather, but on Thursday, with skies sparkling and sunny, the Windsor Farmer's Market opened for the season. From the moment it opened, the market was packed with shoppers looking for fresh vegetables and fruits and wanting the small-town, freshly-grown shopping experience only a farmer's market can provide.

"I am very excited about this season," said First Town Downtown Coordinator, Ashley Dufresne. "I think it’s the best mix of vendors we have had so far," she said.

On opening day, the market couldn't open fast enough. "[Shoppers] were chomping at the bit," said Dufresne. 

But besides variety, a few things make this years' market different from last year's:

- Many more young families were shopping at the market, strollers rolling in from several different corners of downtown Windsor.  These families are looking for fresh, local food to serve their children along with a pleasant, outdoor shopping experience.

- New kinds of items are being offered, such as fresh baked breads, jewelry, and fresh cow & goat milk cheeses.

- First Town Downtown has seen some changes since last year as well. The group lost half of their funding during the budget season. Very recently they made the decision to merge with the Windsor Chamber of Commerce in order to keep their vital downtown programs going. 

But some things have stayed the same:

- Conversation between vendors and buyers was commonplace, as it usually is. It seems people who shop at farmer's markets, including the one in Windsor, want to connect with the growers of their food and ask a few questions that maybe they wouldn't be able to at the mainstream grocery store. They also want to get to know the farmers and learn their story: why they do this for a living? Has it been a good year? etc.

- For sale were customary items like cucumbers, strawberries, raspberries and lettuce. But additionally, this year's vendors are offering unique and exotic garden fare including beeswax candles, honey in the honey-comb, non-commercial granola bars and funky looking garlic scapes.

The Windsor Farmer's Market is a weekly occurence on Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. sharp to 6:30 p.m. in downtown Windsor.  For more information, including a complete list of vendors, go to: www.firsttowndowntown.org.