Farmers Market makes wintertime move

AMENIA — There’s good news for fans of local produce and other farm fresh foods — the Amenia Farmers Market is being extended to last all year. During the summer, the market was camped outside the former Amenia Elementary School, now the new Amenia Town Hall, at its Route 22 parking lot. But now that the colder temperatures have arrived, market organizers Rudy Eschbach and Sophie Meili have decided to move the popular attraction inside Town Hall.

“The vendors all wanted to keep things going, so we approached the town [and got the OK],†Eschbach said. “Now starting the first Saturday in November, that’s exactly what we’re doing, inside the building on Saturdays, instead of Fridays.â€

The hours of operation have changed as well. The market will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the winter months, starting Nov. 6. If the success of the previous Friday afternoon market days are any indication, the new schedule promises to be just as appealing to residents and visitors alike, who are longing for products fresh off the farm.

Seven to 10 vendors will set up shop inside the new Town Hall, with meats, including lamb, beef and pork, a baker, a vegetable farmer, fruits, herbs and grains, as well as homemade soaps, scarecrows and other unique items. All of the products are local to the Tri-state region and many are organic.

“Business-wise every one of the vendors was very happy with the Farmers Market thus far, and just about all of them wanted to continue through the winter,†Eschbach said. “We were very grateful the town let us set up right in the new Town Hall. It’s good for the town to continue right on through to give us the continuity to retain our customer base, which has  been supporting us through the summer months and still ask us to be here. And it’s nice that we’re not going to fall apart through the winter months.â€

Additionally, the market will expand during the holidays. During the last two weeks of November and up until Christmas, local artisans will be invited to join vendors in selling their wares. The only stipulation will be that they use local and native natural materials. To find out more about how to join the Amenia Farmers Market, call Meili at 845-373-4411 or e-mail her at meilifarm2@gmail.com.

Once May rolls around again, the market will move back outdoors and revert to the Friday, 2 to 6 p.m. schedule. Eschbach said he’s pleased the project is able to plan that far in advance; he credits his partner, as well as the vendors, for the success he anticipates will continue to grow.

“It has exceeded our expectations from a financial standpoint and in terms of the number of vendors,†he said. “We started with four vendors, had one turnover, and grew from there. I think the market has gotten people to stop in Amenia who normally wouldn’t. They see us set up and they stop. It works both for the vendors and for the town and we’re highly encouraged. We’re really happy with it.â€

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