The Durango and Bayfield farmers markets are incorporating some new features this season.
The 2024 season kicks off Saturday, and the head honchos at the Durango and Bayfield markets found a way to further assist in drawing crowds.
The Durango Farmers Market is launching a pickup order program, for which manager Anna Knowles said will be comparable to City Market and Walmart in that customers can place an order online before stopping by participating vendors’ tables.
“We want to make sure that are providing some of the same services that bigger companies for groceries do provide,” Knowles said. “A lot of people love going to the farmers market for the environment, to gather, to socialize, although some people are looking for the convenience of seeing what’s at the market, planning out their groceries for the week and being able to price compare.”
Knowles said some customers need to be able to look at price and assemble their orders ahead of time, given the current economic climate. She also said vendors would be in charge of their own online ordering system because one’s cutoff time may differ from others.
The Durango Farmers Market is expecting 150 vendors, including 40 bakery, breakfast and lunch vendors, plus service vendors such as knife-sharpeners, this year.
Entering its fourth year, the Bayfield Farmers Market held at the Pine Valley Church, 1328 County Road 501, is expecting 50 to 60 vendors, including River Rock Gardens, Fourth Sister Farm and Empress Thyme's Produce. There will be four to six new produce vendors and two additional beef ranchers.
“It’s bigger than ever. There’s lots of farmers coming in, and ranchers,” said Suzanna Schroeder, director of the Bayfield Farmers Market.
Carrots and radishes will be among the early-season produce featured in Bayfield, Schroeder said.
Some of the notable vendors returning to the Durango Farmers Market include Fields to Plate Produce, Long Table Farm and Anatolian Farms.
Long Table Farm owner Morgan DiSanto said her establishment is going to have a larger spring flower inventory, including ranunculus, snapdragons and Iceland poppies. Long Table Farm also plans to incorporate more dahlia flowers during the summer.
“People want flowers earlier. Usually in this climate, with what we can grow outside, they don’t really come on until late June, early July,” DiSanto said. “Having flowers available in mid- to late-May, early June, it’s pretty awesome.”
The months of June, July and August are typically the peak season for farmers, from produce to chilies, Knowles said.
Aside from La Plata County, farmers from neighboring Montezuma, Archuleta and San Juan counties are expected to set up shop in Durango. Farmers largely from the Bayfield, Ignacio and Archuleta County areas will be present in Bayfield.
Both farmers markets will be open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon through Oct. 26. Tuesday pop-up markets in Bayfield, which will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., will begin in late June.
mhollinshead@durangoherald.com
