FARMERS MARKET

JULY 8 2006 STARTS AN ORGANIC FARMERS MARKET

Organic Farmers Market Coming to Downtown Littleton

After months of planning and anticipation, the contracts are signed, the street closures are approved, and the crops are in the ground.

Starting July 8, Downtown Littleton will be home to an organic, European style farmers market similar to those at Cherry Creek, Stapleton, Franklin Street, and on the City Park Esplanade. The Historic Downtown Littleton Farmers Market will feature local organic produce and gourmet products, plus artisanal cheeses, plants and herbs in a European style open-air market setting.

The market’s arrival will be concurrent with the arrival of the bulk of Colorado’s best produce. Market hours will be from 9 am until 2 pm every Saturday from July 8th until late summer or early fall.

The markets will be held in Historic Downtown Littleton, on Nevada Street north of Main.

The plan is for the market to start small, with 10 to 15 booths, and grow as demand indicates. Based on initial response from farmers, the current distribution of metro area markets, traffic flows on Main Street and Santa Fe, and Historic Downtown Littleton’s charm, we expect the market to succeed and expand.
Farmers already signed include Rancho Durazno from Palisade where they specialize in peaches, cherries and various vegetables. Also signed are the Austin Family Farms of Paonia which raise over 50 varieties of fruits and vegetables. Whispering Weeds Bakery of Evergreen will provide baked goods, and organic cheeses will come from Haystack Mountain Cheeses, who supply establishments like the Brown Palace, 240 Union and Whole Foods. Several other merchants are close to signing as well, so we expect a colorfully diverse slate by our July 8 opening.

This market has developed under the guidance of Helen Rice of Willow-An Artisan’s Market, who, with the market manager, has personally toured farms and invited top-end organic producers to participate. That will make this market highly personal. We also have to thank BMS neighbor Pam Duffy, who suggested such a market last fall.

Helen Rice also operates Littleton’s Summer Art Walk series, which runs on Main Street the second Saturday of every month. The Art Walk features some 40 local artists offering a wide variety of art. The Walk enters its second year this summer, and will start July 8, the same start date as the Farmers Market. Art Walk hours will be from 10 to 6.

The Historic Downtown Littleton Farmers Market, as well as the Art Walk, are great new amenities for us all. Markets are growing throughout the US, and this is a ground-floor opportunity to experience a high-end, European-style market which will serve as a community gathering place, as well as the source of the night’s meal. As that Martha person would say, “It’s a good thing.”