Let's Move the Farmers' Market Indoors

Jody: “It’s like the old days, and you pick up the few things you want for dinner that night, and not the week’s worth of grocery shopping.”

(sound fades under)

Jody Cavanaugh of Amherst is shopping for fresh picked flavor among the booths of the state's first farmer’s market to open for the winter.

She and about 40 other patrons amble about the 1600 square foot space.

It used to house a clothing store in this upscale shopping strip.

(shopping sounds… “5.54 please”)

Eileen Cavallaro, of Amherst, sells fresh cut flowers.

She's managed the town's outdoor farmer’s market for three years.

She says that the vendors had been talking about selling through the winter for a couple of years now.

Cavallaro: 2:33 We had become close to the community as vendors, and the vendors became a community on their own. We knew that everyone wanted us to continue providing locally grown, locally made goods. They were wondering where they were going to get these items.

But she says as interested as everyone claimed to be, they found it hard to commit to taking the risk.

Cavallaro: 4:51 Being a farmer, putting out lease money every month in the winter when you don’t normally have an income is very, very challenging.

Cavallaro herself signed a six month lease for the space for 2100 dollars a month.

The vendors each pay 200 dollars a month for their space.

My name is Tim Benjamin. I’m from Kelly Corner Farm in Chichester.

Benjamin, with a trailing white beard, spins yarn as he explains his products to customers.

:20 We sell pasture-raised lambs, chickens, wool, yarn, goats.

So far, his customers have pre-ordered 30 (UPDATE) turkeys for Thanksgiving.

Drema Cady: :07 My name is Drema Cady, and I’m the owner of Country Dreams Farm.

:34 Everybody didn’t want us to go away in the winter, so we says, OK, why don’t we do an indoor.

Cady owns seven acres in Nashua, and a greenhouse in Mason.

She say farmers have to plan a year ahead.

During the winter, Cady plans to grow root vegetables and leaf crops in unheated greenhouses.

If she makes enough money from the indoor market, she says, they’ll heat the greenhouse next year to grow more variety.

For now, Cady -- and Tim Benjamin -- say they will have to wait and see how it goes.

Taylor: 9:59 They’ve got courage. I hand it to them.

Agricultural commissioner Steve Taylor.

Taylor: 8:59 It’s going to be very interesting to watch this and see how it develops. I know a lot of other communities are quite interested in this.

Taylor says the Amherst market's got a lot going for it, but above all it's got an ideal location.

Taylor: 5:27 They’ve built into the culture around Amherst expectations and support for good products. The consumer base is accustomed and willing.

But how many good products are grown during New Hampshire's winters.

George Hamilton, with the UNH Cooperative Extension says consumers would be surprised.

Farmers, he says, do have the technology to yield crops that are tolerant of the cold.

But they can’t afford to do so if the demand isn’t there.

So, says Hamilton, the market’s success hinges on educating more customers.

Hamilton: 4:25 A lot of times, the consumer today doesn’t realize what we can offer during the winter months, what is we can store or grow.

The cooperative indoor market is open Thursdays through Saturdays.

Market manager Eileen Cavallaro hopes the customers keep coming.

But she says she’s not in it for the money.

Cavallaro: 13:11 It’s the most important thing I’ve every done in my life. It’s groundbreaking.

The other farmers agree.

But they add, if they don't make any money, they can't afford to come back.

For NHPR News in Nashua, this is Sheryl Rich-Kern.