Memphis Farmers Market to debut new Winter Market

Cold weather can't stop the Memphis Farmers Market. The organization has announced it will open its first Winter Market this year. From Saturday, Nov. 8 through Dec. 13 the Winter Market will be open in its regular location -- the Central Station pavilion Downtown -- every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Memphis Farmers Market summer season will end on Saturday, October 25. The market will close for a week in preparation for its annual Barnyard Ball fundraiser that will take place on November 1, also under the pavilion at Central Station.

“We're thrilled to offer an expanded market season this year so that our patrons can enjoy fresh local produce and other goods into the fall," said Allison Cook, market director. "Fall is typically a beautiful time of the year, and with the Mid-South's late growing season, keeping the market open into November and December is something many of our vendors have wanted.”

Nearly 50 of the summer season vendors are committed to return for the Winter Market, and the list is growing. A complete list of participating vendors will be available by September 15.

“As a longtime vendor at the Memphis Farmers Market, we’ve grown along with it,” said Jill Forrester of Whitton Farms and the Trolley Stop Market. “The Winter Market will allow us to sell our fall crops as well as holiday offerings like our handmade, natural wreaths.”

The Winter Market comes after careful thought by the board of directors.

“For many of our growers, this season had a late kick-off due to cooler spring and early summer temps, and for some, crops are still coming in as we head toward the last two months of our regular season,” said Frank Howell, president of the Memphis Farmers Market board of directors. “We saw this as the perfect opportunity to help out our vendors and fulfill a long-term goal of our board to extend our market season.”