The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Shopping is brisk at farmers market
Twice-weekly venue offers garden produce, fudge and soaps
TORRINGTON — Under a shady stand of trees in the parking lot at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, vendors set up their booths and serve up a variety of produce, jams, fudge and soaps to a crowd of shoppers.
Business was brisk, with shoppers browsing and purchasing from an assortment of freshly picked produce. With the summer harvest in full swing, the Torrington Farmers Market attracted several hundred customers, with some saying they were happy to support local farmers and other enterprises.
Vendors and shoppers were wearing masks, and in some instances face shields in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Shoppers were also instructed to move around the weekend market in a one-way pattern and social distance as they walked from booth to booth.
Vendors also asked shoppers not to touch, but rather point to what they wanted and the item would be placed in a bag for weighing and purchase. It’s another safety precaution the participating sellers are taking during the pandemic.
“It’s nice to be out and feeling somewhat normal,” said Rita Nettleton, who was at the market with her daughter, Amanda, and grandson, Adam, who took in the goings-on from his stroller.
Charlie and Marie Gauger, owners of Maple View Farm in Harwinton, were quite busy. Charlie Gauger is the market’s president.
“The Torrington market has been in different locations; we’ve been here four years now,” he said. “This is a great location and there is plenty of room for
the vendors and for people to park their vehicles.”
He said on a busy day, the market can draw up to 400 people, bringing in customers mostly from Torrington and some surrounding towns.
Several factors delayed the market’s opening this year, Gauger said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic and shutdowns of businesses and events put a hold on things for a bit and the cold spring was not conducive to getting an early crop,” he said. “But we were able to finally open with all the safety protocols in place and it has gone well. We have 11 vendors here today, and the location allows us to spread out and each has ample room. We are also accepting SNAP this year.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of families who need it, so they can purchase healthful food.
Bethany Zukowski, owner of Torrington’s Better Baking by Beth, has been bringing her products to the Torrington Farmers Market for the past 15 years.
“I was very concerned early this year that we weren’t going to be able to have it because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. “But I’m glad it worked out. I think it’s good for people to get out and feel a bit of normalcy in their lives.”
Kristy Barto, owner of the Nutmeg Fudge Company of Torrington, is new to the market, selling her assortment of homemade fudge.
“It’s been wonderful so far,” she said. “It’s nice to get out in public and sell my products and with all the precautions being taken I think people feel safe coming here.”
The Torrington Farmers Market is open from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Because fresh produce is seasonal, the items for sale change weekly depending on what’s ripe.