Printer Friendly Version - Farewell, Branford Alps Farmers Market

At the summer opening of the Branford Alps Farmers Market in June, Anna Weyher talks with one of many vendors, Krisiti Duchscherer from Late Bloomer Farm LLC, about flowers and the flowers she has for sale.Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Sound

After two years of planning and two sucessful seasons of making accessible fresh, seasonal local food and goods to people of all means, Branford Alps Farmers Market (BAFM) has announced it's now-familiar yellow and white big top tent has folded, for good.

The seasonal market had opened Thursday evenings, June through October, in 2015 and 2016. Market Manager and non-profit BAFM founder Martha Maguire and board members BAFM board co-members Darlene Zimmermann and Maguire's husband, Walter Maguire, announced the decision not to return next year on the BAFM page on Dec. 14.

"With regret and sorrow, due to circumstances beyond our control, the board of directors of the Branford Alps Farmers Market has found it necessary to terminate the Thursday summer market at 17 Alps Road. The board will be supportive of any future effort to bring another market to Branford that aims to promote access to locally grown or raised products. Many thanks to all of you for your enthusiasm and participation in our local food vision over the past four years and feel free to contact Martha Maguire, the market manager, with your comments, questions, or suggestions," read the post.

Part of the mission of BAFM was to make its weekly products available to consumers who shop for their food using assistance programs such as SNAP (and offered limited doubling of SNAP). SNAP and cash could be exchanged for BAFM coins accepted by vendors. BAFM also supplied special BAMF coins to local food service agencies – for example, $500 in coins weekly to Branford Food Pantry.

Another BAFM goal was to support small farms and businesses offering locally grown and produced food and goods.

A conversation in the comments section of the BAFM Facebook page has ensued in the days since the closing was announced. One asked if the market could move to a new location.

"The market can no longer use the Alps parking lot and the board is not prepared to start a new market in time for next year. There is no reason, however, that another group can't establish a market in a new location in the future. The town now has a definition of a farmers market in their zoning rules and the health department is supportive of creating better access to healthy local food in the community. It should be easier for a new group to navigate the town's regulations," replied the BAFM board.