BRASS CITY HARVEST
Local nonprofit Brass City Harvest is hitting the road for the summer farmers market season.
Brass City Harvest is hosting markets on Thursdays on the Green in Waterbury, Tuesdays at the Waterbury Senior Center at 1985 East Main St., and rotating locations on Wednesdays.
The markets will feature all Connecticut-grown items from farms, including Gresczyk Farm in New Hartford, Arisco Farm in Cheshire, Hodges Farm in Waterbury, Sunset Farm in Naugatuck, Maple Bank Farm in Roxbury, Daffodil Hill Farm in Southbury, CTFood4Thought in Torrington, Lamonthe’s Sugar House in Burlington and others. Customers may use cash, credit, Farmers Market Nutrition Program cards and SNAP as payment.
Anyone interested in supporting local agriculture can also take advantage of online ordering and delivery for fruit, vegetables, eggs, meat, dairy, ice cream, sauce and salsa via the nonprofit’s website, brasscityharvestwaterbury.com.
Brass City Harvest was founded in 2007 with a mission to support urban farming, foster a sustainable community food system, provide nutrition education, and increase food access points to address many of the health, food and social justice needs of underserved populations in Waterbury.
DETAILS: Brass City Harvest, brasscityharvestwaterbury.com.
OTHER LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS
Weekly pop-up markets can be found all over the Northeast corner, giving communities a chance at fresh-grown produce harvested from nearby farms, as well as other locally created goodies.
Local markets include the Norfolk Farmers Market, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Bristol Farmers Market, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Kent Farmers Market, Fridays, 3 to 6 p.m.; and Litchfield Farm Fresh Market, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Litchfield Farm Fresh Market is located in the Center School Parking Lot and features produce, vendors, music and more.
Regular offerings include March Farms’ baked goods, produce and eggs; Ideal Seafood, with a weekly special each week; Berry Ledges Apiary’s honey products; Goat Boy Soaps; Wave Hill Bread; and Cato Corner Cheese.
The market also offers entertainment with a different musician each week, showcases a weekly nonprofit, and has a “recipe of the week” based on what is in season and being sold at the market.
DETAILS: Litchfield Hills Farm Fresh Market, Center School, Woodruff Lane, Litchfield; www.litchfieldfarmersmarket.org.
CONNECTICUT GROWN
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture hosts a special website to share information on locally-grown produce and products, including names of farms, farmer’s markets and information on organic farmers. The site features more than 5,500 producers in the state.
The site has an informative blog with posts on seasonal agriculture information, tips for home gardeners and recipes.
A recent post details the benefits of shopping at a farmer’s market, and how this choice can save one money due to several factors: reduced food waste, due to the shopper choosing the amount they would like to purchase; longer lasting produce, since the produce was harvested just before the market; bulk purchase options; cash purchases, which keep prices lower; and discounts on “ugly” produce and end-of-day produce.
Connecticut Grown also has a shop with T-shirts and other merchandise. Proceeds benefit the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Connecticut Grown program, which promotes Connecticut’s farmers and the diverse array of agricultural products they grow.
DETAILS: Connecticut Grown, CTgrown.org; Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut, guide.ctnofa.org.
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