Farmers market season is about a month away, and the small but mighty markets in Bayfield and Ignacio will provide fresh produce, artisanal bites and handmade goods throughout the summer.
Bayfield Downtown Farmers Market opens on June 20. Market manager Jackie Morlan said they lost two of their growers – All Seasons Farm and Homegrown Farm – at the end of the 2018 season, but she was able to lock down vendors to replace them this year.
“We have nine vendors, and for the size of Bayfield, at this point, it’s just perfect. We are growing along naturally,” Morlan said.
Current vendors include Pinyon Crest Farms, Snowcap Ridge and Homestead Orchard Farm, among others.
Morlan said the goal of the downtown market is to get people to Mill Street and provide quality food from the valley. She said while the downtown market is food-focused, other types of vendors are allowed to participate. New vendors can test-drive the downtown market three times before they need a license. The fee is $10 per market.
The downtown market also offers Double Up Food Bucks, which doubles the dollars spent at the market for SNAP recipients.
The market is located on Mill Street near Joe Stephenson Park from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Thursday through Sept. 26. When the market coincides with the Bayfield Summer Block Parties on June 20, July 18 and Aug. 15, it will be located at Mill and Pearl streets.
The Original Bayfield Farmers Market is now in its 30th year and will kick off from 8:30 a.m. to noon on June 29.
“We push it out so our local farmers and gardeners have produce to sell,” said manager Jacqui Day, who also co-owns 2 Buds Artisan Food Company, which is available at the market.
Products available include produce by Snowcap Ridge, jams and jellies by Silva Spoons Creations, homestyle baked goods, a few craft vendors, a lamb vendor, fresh eggs, honey and coffee by The Coffee Merchant. She said there are typically around 10 vendors total.
Day said in a town of 2,500, they can’t go too big, though, having two markets in Bayfield hasn’t been an issue.
“Because (the original) is located right on 160, 70% of our traffic is tourists and 30% is local and the downtown is just the opposite,” Day said, adding that the two markets send tourists to each other since they are on different days of the week.
Like the downtown market, the original market also allows new vendors to try out a couple of events before applying for a license. The market is located on Highway 160 east of CR 501 directly across the street from the Riverside RV Park.
The Ignacio farmers market has not existed the past two years, but Dancing Spirits Community Art Center owner and organizer Kasey Correia wants to bring the event back to Inspiration Square at the ELHI, 463–487 Shoshone St. In the past, the market was supported by Roots Natural Foods and Growing Partners of Southwest Colorado.
Correia said the market would be a way to boost the town’s network of artists. She is in the process of signing up artisans and food vendors and determining the opening date. Vendors must pay a one-time $50 fee split equally between ELHI and advertising costs. Booth space is $5 per market. To learn more, call (970) 563-4600.
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