Winter Farmers Markets and Gifts from the Family Farm!

Some states in the U.S. are lucky to have the kind of weather that allows farmers markets to stay open all year. Others have a year-round indoor market, like Pike Place in Seattle or Reading Terminal in Philadelphia. But even in cold-weather states, farmers markets are starting to follow in the footsteps of resilient and brilliant farmers who extend the growing season using innovative techniques to keep the farm-fresh produce coming. Winter farmers markets are popping up all over! Last year on this blog, we had a short list of winter farmers markets across the country. This year, that list has grown quite a bit. And just today, the USDA reported an official count of winter farmers markets: 898!

Here’s a list of winter markets I was able to pull together, with links to their website if they have one. Let me know in the comments section below if I’ve missed your favorite winter market.

Portland, ME

Vermont

York, ME

New Hampshire

Lebanon, NH

Natick, MA

Wayland, MA

North Amherst, MA

Somerville, MA

Massachusetts

Westport, CT

Litchfield, CT

Pawtucket, RI

North Kingston, RI

Saratoga Springs, NY

Troy, NY

Glens Falls, NY

Lancaster County, PA: Green Dragon Market and Central Market

Princeton and North Brunswick, New Jersey

Leesburg, VA and Richmond, VA

Baltimore County, MD

Here’s a great list for the DC, VA, MD area

Chapel Hill, NC

Chicago, Illinois

St Louis, MO

Columbia, MO

Franklin, TN

Bloomington, IN

Indianapolis, IN

Columbus, OH

Worthington, OH

Des Moines, IA

Dubuque, IA

Milwaukee, WI

Dane County, WI

Eau Claire, WI

Madison, WI

Kalamazoo, MI

St. Paul, MN

Minneapolis, MN

Rochester, MN

Scottsbluff, NE

Stillwater, OK and Oklahoma City, OK

West Wichita, KS and Emporia, KS

Pryor, OK

Basalt, CO

Fort Collins, CO

Salt Lake City, UT

Bozeman, MT

Cheyenne, Goshen County and Laramie, Wyoming

Sioux Falls, SD

Las Vegas, NV

Seattle, Washington

Portland, OR

Oregon City, OR

Corvallis, OR

If there isn’t a winter market near you selling the ham you'd like for your holiday table, you can order your sustainably-raised ham from Patchwork Family Farms in Missouri. Patchwork is a cooperative of family farmers who believe in raising quality meat in a sustainable and humane way, and we've been proud to work with them for 25 years now.

Another long-time partner of Farm Aid is Family Farm Defenders in Wisconsin and they're once again offering their fair trade holiday gift boxes, featuring Fair Trade Family Farmer Cheese!

Are you looking for something to give do-it-yourself-er in your life, or DIY gifts you can make and give? Click on over to HOMEGROWN.org and check out the latest blog on HOMEGROWN gift ideas.

And don't forget about the great merchandise available at www.farmaid.org. T-shirts, hats and 25th anniversary posters are the perfect gifts for those who love the music and the mission to keep family farmers on the land, growing good food for all of us. This Sunday, December 12, is the last day to order to guarantee delivery by Christmas.

Happy Holidays!