The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Market co-op will include local farmers
WINSTED — When the Mad River Market co-op, a community grocery store with shareholders, opens in Winsted, members hope it will offer produce, meat and other products from local farms.
To expand on that idea, co-op members held a forum, “Farmers, Food Producers & Mad River Market,” at Little Red Barn Brewers on Lake Street this week. About 20 people representing farms from around Winsted attended, most of whom were curious about their role in the market.
To date, the co-op has 323 members. Each person joined as a shareholder with a check for $200. Co-op board President Glen Zeh told the group that to lease or purchase a space in town will require about 1,000 shareholders.
“But we feel like we’ve really gained momentum,” said Philip Allen, co-founder and project manager. “People are excited about it, and motivated to make it happen.”
“I live in the area, and I think (Mad River Market co-op) is an awesome idea,” said member Janet Cosgrove. “Winsted is growing ... it’s a whole new life for the town.”
The forum also welcomed more potential members — couples and single people — who wanted to learn more before joining.
Nils Johnson, owner of Little Red Barn Brewers, opened his tap room for the meeting.
“It’s pretty exciting to see so many people show up for something like this,” he said. “Since we opened, our success has far exceeded our expectations, and it just keeps going. Whenever a group reaches out for an event, we host it without any hesitation. We’re part of this community now.”
When the co-op began in 2017, members hoped to use the Winsted Super Saver, which was about to close. The space eventually was sold to Community Health &
Wellness Center of Greater Torrington, and the co-op for Mad River Market is keeping its options open. Members are eyeing a space behind the brewery on Lake Street, board member Meg Raino said, with about 6,700 square feet available.
“If someone comes along before we’re ready, they may lease the space ahead of us, but it’s something we’re interested in,” Raino said.
Mark Orth, manager of Birdseye and Tanner Brook Farm in West Cornwall, was one of the many farmers who attended the forum. “We got an email about it, and decided to come down and see what it’s all about,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to be part of it.”
Anita Barden of Barden Farm in New Hartford also attended. “Anita is Barden Farm,” Allen said. “She’s been incredibly supportive of us since this all got started.”
“Since we opened, our success has far exceeded our expectations, and it just keeps going. Whenever a group reaches out for an event, we host it without any hesitation. We’re part of this community now.”
Nils Johnson, owner of Little Red Barn Brewers
The group of members, farmers and visitors broke into several groups to discuss what types of products the farms sell, and gave the farm representatives a chance to ask questions about their role. Since so much is in the planning stages, everything suggested was written down by co-op board member Sherry Perugini.
Farmers who attended raise beef, lamb and pork, grow tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, popcorn and vegetables. Another small farm focuses on culinary and medicinal herbs, while another young man said his farm makes maple syrup, homemade pesto and other sauces, and raises their own pigs. The group represented towns including Winsted, Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Norfolk, New Hartford, Canaan and West Cornwall.
Many of the food growers said they participate in farmers markets, and said they liked them because it gave them a chance to connect with residents outside of work. “It fosters a sense of community,” one woman said. “How do you plan to do that?”
Zeh said the farm market concept was something the co-op would pursue, by featuring a vendor a day or a week. He also said the market could have a large eat-in area, where customers could have a meal, and meet the people who grew the food they were eating.
“We could focus on the food providers, and have different themes of food each day,” Zeh said. “There’s ways to build relationships between the customers and the providers, maybe by having farmers in the store one day a week to meet the public.”
About where she does her shopping, Kelley Babbin, owner of Howling Flats Farm in Canaan, said, “My freezer.”
Babbin raises beef cows and pigs. “We need a local grocery store,” she said. “We need good food.”
Sarah Tracey, who grows medicinal and culinary herbs, said she was happy to be part of the co-op plan. “It’s exciting to be part of something like this,” she said.
On Feb. 13, the co-op is holding a membership drive at the Parrott Delaney Tavern in New Hartford. “It’s a party, but it’s also about getting people to join,” Allen said.
For information about the Mad River Market coop, call 860-469-2259 or visit http://www.madrivermarket.coop/.