DANBURY FARMERS’ MARKET – AN INTERVIEW WITH PEGGY ZAMORE

We recently met with Peggy Zamore, Director of the Danbury Farmers’ Market to learn about the many resources and programs they offer to provide the community with access to fresh produce and healthy living workshops. Mark your calendars – the Market opens for the season on Saturday, June 24th.

The Danbury Farmers’ Market is much more than just a place to buy fresh produce! What can visitors expect?
Yes, it is much more! We call it a Farmers’ Market plus, plus. We offer many programs and incentives for people to gain access to healthier food and learn how to eat better. We don’t just tell people what to do to have a healthier diet, but we give them the actionable resources to actually make that change to incorporate fresh fruit and vegetables into their diet, exercise, and live a healthier life.

We offer nutrition programs and incentives to buy fresh produce at the market, for example a $15 voucher to spend on healthy food choices for program attendees. Every other week we offer nutrition workshops with a chef’s demo and nutrition information. As an incentive, workshop attendees receive $15 to spend on fresh produce at the market. Programs run at 10:30 and 11:30 on Saturdays, and we offer all programs in both English and Spanish and recipes are produced in both languages. Some recipes can be downloaded from our website. Download recipes here

It looks like opening day is going to be quite exciting! What are some of the festivities at the opening?
Opening day for the market is on Saturday, June 24th, with a bell ringing ceremony at 10:00 am. Participating in opening ceremonies will be Mayor Dean Esposito, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes, State Senator Julie Kushner, State Rep Bob Godfrey and representatives from Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, one of our key supporters.
There will be live music, fun activities for families, food and nutrition demos and RVNAhealth health screenings. Friends of Danbury Library will be giving out books. You can find all the opening day festivities here

The Danbury Farmers’ Market is located at the Danbury CityCenter Green starting on Saturday, June 24th and runs every Saturday through October 28th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Tell us about the farmers and other vendors at the Market:
In addition to all the vendors who will return from last year, there will be many new vendors bringing a variety of fresh produce. Visitors can choose from many local farms for fruit and vegetables, flowers, fish, mushrooms, microgreens, jams, breads, pastries, herbal products, beer and much more. View vendors here

What other programs will be offered at the Market this summer?
In addition to fresh produce, often picked the very morning of the Market, there will be several programs such as health and nutrition workshops, fitness activities, chef’s demos, RVNAhealth Screenings, recipes, live music, and more. Learn more on our website
We encourage everyone to sign-up for our e-newsletter which outlines what will be happening at the Market each Saturday. Sign up on our website!

Tell us about the mission behind the Danbury Farmers’ Market:
The mission of the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative is to provide equitable access to fresh food. We also support sustainable local agriculture in Connecticut so that the local farming community can thrive. This will be our 14th year! And each year we add more vendors at the Market and healthy living programs for the community.

What are some of the food programs you partner with and how do these programs help the Danbury community?
One of our programs that may be of interest to your readers takes place at the Danbury Senior Center, Elmwood Hall. This monthly nutrition programs offers similar workshops as those that take place at the Market. This also include a mini Farmers’ Market with produce from one farm and is held right at the senior center! This program is held on the third Wednesday of each month, beginning Wednesday, July 19th from 1:30 to 2:30. The mini-market will run from 12:30 to 3:30 with produce from a local farm. $20 incentives are provided to program attendees to spend at the mini-market or at the regular Saturday market. This program fills up quickly so please call the Danbury Senior Center to reserve your spot.

There are also monthly programs at New Hope Baptist Church for the community to learn about nutrition and the Farmers’ Market with a $20 incentive offered for attendees. Learn more at: https://newhopedanbury.org

There is also a special CT Agriculture’s Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program that also offers benefits through local senior centers and congregate housing. We have a program for veterans as well to thank our veterans! Other partner programs that provide funding and food benefits are WIC, SNAP, CT Fresh Match and End Hunger CT. SNAP benefits are doubled at the market for fresh produce. Learn more about our programs at the Danbury Farmers’ Market and here

How can people support the Danbury Farmers’ Market?
There are many ways to support our programs! Donations can be made on our website.
Sponsors can reach out to get involved and support our mission – to learn more, please contact us here.
And we’re always looking for volunteers to help at the Market, even to fill in when needed. We are also looking for volunteers to teach yoga and other wellness workshops. It’s great exposure and for a very worthwhile cause! You can contact us here.