Farmers are essential to the character of the Berkshires. It’s a treat to know them, and an even greater treat to have access to their wonderful farm products even in the dead of winter. You can do both at the Berkshire Grown Holiday and Winter Markets.
The next Winter Market is Saturday, December 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and then monthly through April 2021 at Eisner Camp, 53 Brookside Road in Great Barrington. (Exact dates are January 16, February 20, March 27, and April 10.)
The Holiday Market will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 20, at Greylock Works, 508 State Road in North Adams.
The markets will feature an abundance of locally grown and produced foods from the Berkshires. The offerings of local producers range from winter squash, greens, and root crops, to apples, meats, cheeses, honey, and maple syrup, as well as baked goods, jams, ferment products, and cider. Admission to the Farmers Markets is free and SNAP/EBT is accepted at all markets.
“We are thrilled to offer these indoor winter markets to support our Berkshire farmers,” says Berkshire Grown Executive Director Margaret Moulton. “Even the brief exchanges between farmers and shoppers at the socially-distant markets remind us how lucky we are to know the farmers who grow our food. The Berkshire Grown Holiday and Winter Farmers Markets give community members the opportunity to support our farmers and local food producers, and to thank them for their hard work year-round.”
While no food or drink can be consumed in the market area, Off the Shelf and North Plain Farm will be selling egg sandwiches and grilled sausages to take home and enjoy. At Greylock WORKS, The Break Room will be open during the market, offering coffee, pastries, and full breakfast and lunch menus focused on regional farms.
Both venues offer indoor shopping with plenty of parking. The number of visitors allowed in the market will be limited according to state and local Board of Health regulations. Everyone entering the market area will be required to wear a mask, and shoppers are encouraged to plan ahead by making a shopping list and sending only one or two household members into the market.
To help visitors shop the market quickly, shoppers can pre-order in advance and pick up from vendors during the market. Pre-order details are available on the Berkshire Grown website. In Great Barrington, shoppers may schedule their visit in advance through the Berkshire Grown website, allowing visitor entrance to the market to move more quickly.
Generous sponsors help make the Winter Farmers Market possible: Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives at Williams College, Berkshire Bank, and Jane Iredale Skincare Makeup. The Berkshire Food Co-op, Herrington’s, and Mountain One support the Market Match program for SNAP dollars at the Berkshire Grown Holiday and Winter Farmers Markets. Berkshire Grown is also grateful for support from The Bookloft, Greylock WORKS, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, Lee Bank, The Prairie Whale, Rolling Rock Salt, Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, and Williams College Center for Environmental Studies.
Berkshire Grown supports and promotes local agriculture as a vital part of the Berkshire community, economy, and landscape; its mission is to “Keep Farmers Farming!” Through farmer workshops, podcasts, food access networks, advocacy, and education highlighting locally grown and produced food, Berkshire Grown helps to create a thriving local food economy. For more information, go to berkshiregrown.org or call 413-528-0041.
We at The Berkshire Edge are happy to support Berkshire Grown, and to make the digital version of their annual guide available to you here. As Executive Director Margaret Moulton observes, “Now more than ever, connections to local food and farms hold our community together. Be safe, be well, enjoy, and keep farmers farming!”
Search the guide, or find producers and retailers through an interactive map.
