Taos Farmers Market continues through November
The Taos Farmers Market will continue its season through the first three weeks in November, with markets scheduled for Nov. 6, 13, and 20 from 9 a.m. to noon. The market is featuring pumpkins, squash, potatoes and other crops, along with crafts, tea, baked goods and herbal products. Look for locally grown garlic from Morning Star Farm. With sunny mild weather forecast for the coming weekend, now might be a great time to visit the market. The extended season makes preparing for Thanksgiving easy with fresh local produce, gifts and chile wreaths.
We reached out to Taos Farmers Market Manager Jennifer Helsel to find out more about the November markets.
What is different about the upcoming markets?
The November markets are mostly for our farmers, who still have fresh fall veggies to sell; it’s always been a way for farmers to have a venue to sell later-season crops. The Taos Farmers Market is directed by a board of four farmer vendors and one non-farmer vendor, so every decision we make is based on the farmers’ needs.
The differences that customers will experience is a reduced market size, but they can still expect fresh local produce through Nov. 20. The focus is a bit more on the coming holidays and preparing for winter: root vegetables, honey, meat, dried herbs - things that keep well in the pantry/freezer and are more readily available this time of year.
Have you been open through November every year?
Every year for the past five years we have. Many of our experienced farmers plan on it when planting in the spring.
Was it planned from the beginning that the market would go through Nov. 20?
It is always planned to happen, the only thing that would stop us from holding November markets is if there was blizzard type of weather on those planned market days or some catastrophic weather event that leaves our farmers with nothing to sell in November. That’s why we wait to announce these markets until we are sure and certain we will have produce available for the community.
What products will be featured by farmers through the month?
Potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, dried beans, and dried red chile. Also, we will be the only place in town to get New Mexico-raised turkey, a heritage breed turkey for your Thanksgiving meal. To get anything close to this you’d have to raise or hunt the turkey yourself. Pre-order directly from Pollo Real to have your turkey for pick up at market on Nov. 20.
Are you still roasting chiles?
With our climate being very different from Hatch, New Mexico, any green chiles grown within 50 miles of here have already been sold, roasted and (probably) eaten.
Do you have any other special events planned?
We will continue to have live music by local musicians: NOV. 6: Sanji: Rob, Miles, Mitchell and Adam playing West African Ngoni
NOV. 13: The Quijano Wood Family Band
NOV. 20: TBD