The first annual Harvest Market was a success!
Customers did not have to deal with harried crowds and screaming children; instead, the crowd was a happy one. It felt less like grocery shopping and more like a cocktail party with the option of buying kale and potatoes (minus the hooch).
Besides being able to comparison shop for fruits, vegetables, and herbs, there were vendors selling coffee, jewelry, jams, soup mixes, beans, bicycles, bread, bags, kettle corn, tacos, cider, cheese, and more. Visitors to the Knox Parks greenhouse on Laurel Street were able to sample foods while listening to live music. A table was set up for kids’ arts and crafts.
Several people were overheard saying that this kind of market should happen every week.
Richard
What a wonderful visit we had to the market. Nice produce, soap, jam,honey,cheese and bread was purchased by myself, goosey bell, and Cassy Role. Stand up and take a bow all of the folks who put the event together. I thought the same this type of market should be done more often. It was like what a real market should be. Can’t say that I missed missing the live music as most of the time its too loud so people can’t even talk when its around.
Kerri Provost
They probably could’ve done without the amp, but the music was good. People were dancing to it.
Robin
Agreed, it was very cocktail-party-like (minus the hooch). Bought a few things for Thanksgiving & others for everyday eating. The only disappointment was that none of the vendors were selling meat, but everything we bought was wonderful. I have my fingers crossed that they will host a Christmas market as well.
Kerri Provost
Was surprised they were not selling meat since there are purveyors of meat at the Billings Forge market. Not an issue for me, but it seems like something most people would want at the market before Thanksgiving.
Jane
Agree it was a big success! Very neighborly, upbeat feeling. Would be great if they could partner with Billings Forge to make similar (good-sized) markets more often on the weekend. Maybe monthly if weekly is impractical. I feel badly that I don’t patronize the BF market more often, but if you work regular office hours it’s pretty hard to get there. A regular Saturday morning market would be terrific!
Richard
I agree Jane. I can hardly ever get to the week day farmer’s market due to my work and am sorry that Hartford doesn’t have a Saturday market. We use to have a market first in the parking lot and then up near Park St. I have often wondered why no Saturday markets in Hartford, and wish someone could answer me.
Let’s hope there are more of these real deal markets in the future. I just hope the music is outside or in the other green house so some of us who can’t, can think straight. HA!