Berkshire Grown kicks off their 2021-2022 Winter Market season on the weekend before Thanksgiving, in north and south county. The first in the season of six Great Barrington Saturday farmers markets will take place in the Housy Dome (Housatonic is a village of Great Barrington) on Saturday, November 20 and the Williamstown/North Adams Winter Farmers Market will be at Greylock WORKS on Sunday, November 21.
The Housy Dome is located at 1064 Main Street in Housatonic and is included on the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority BRTA route #21. The indoor Great Barrington Winter Farmers Market will continue to run on the third Saturday of the month through April, from 10:00am to 2:00PM. The Williamstown/North Adams Winter farmers Market will also take place at Greylock WORKS in North Adams on Sunday, December 19, from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
Executive Director Margaret Moulton says “we are thrilled to offer these indoor winter farmers markets again this year. Even in brief exchanges between farmers and shoppers at the socially-distant markets, we are reminded how lucky we are to know the farmers who grow our food. The monthly Winter Farmers Markets provide community members the opportunity to support local farmers and food producers and to stock up on locally grown winter vegetables, greens, cheese and meats.”
The winter markets will feature the abundance of locally grown and produced foods unique to be found in the Berkshires. Vendors offer local products ranging from winter squash, greens, and root crops, to apples, meats, cheeses, honey, and maple syrup, as well as baked goods, jams, ferments, and cider. Admission to the Farmers Markets is free and SNAP is accepted with a 100% match, available at the Market Manager’s table. For shoppers using SNAP, Berkshire Grown is authorized to process the Healthy Incentive Program (HIP), adding extra money to their EBT wallet for fruits and vegetables on top of regular SNAP benefits.
Off the Shelf and North Plain Farm will grill their signature egg sandwiches and grilled sausages outside the Housatonic location during some of the market dates. At Greylock WORKS, The Break Room will be open indoors, offering coffee, pastries, breakfast, and lunch.
Everyone entering the market area will be required to wear masks, and shoppers are encouraged to plan ahead by making a shopping list and sending only one or two household members to the market. Shoppers can also make pre-purchases from some vendors via WhatsGood, the e-commerce platform on the Berkshire Grown website, berkshiregrown.org, with pick-up at the vendors’ tables.
We are extremely grateful to our Winter Farmers Market sponsors: Jane Iredale, the Berkshire Food Co-op, the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives at Williams College, Berkshire Bank, Ed Herrington, Inc., The Pass, Rolling Rock Salt, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, Lee Bank, MountainOne Bank, Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, and the Williams College Center for Environmental Studies. We also thank the Town of Great Barrington for its support in our use of the Housy Dome as a market venue, and to Greylock WORKS for hosting the Williamstown/ North Adams Winter Farmers Markets. Thank you to Massachusetts Department of Agriculture for support of Berkshire Grown’s Winter Farmers Markets and the production of our 2021 video.
Berkshire Grown supports and promotes local agriculture as a vital part of the Berkshire community, economy, and landscape; its mission is to “Keep Farmers Farming!” Through farmer workshops, food access networks, podcasts, advocacy, and events highlighting locally grown and produced food, Berkshire Grown helps create a thriving local food economy. For more information, go to berkshiregrown.org or call 413.528.0041.
