“Mobile Winter Farms Market” to begin this week in Manchester

Share from last week’s mobile market pickup in Stockbridge. Photo from Chelsea Farmers Market.

If you are mourning the end of farmers market season or wondering how many days until your garden is done for the winter and you’ll have to switch over to grocery store veggies trucked in from great distances, we’ve got exciting news. The Chelsea Farmers Market, a program of St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea, is offering something new this year, a “mobile winter farmers market” in Manchester, Stockbridge and Grass Lake!

Every week customers will be able to order a pre-made “share” or “basket” of products compiled from different vendors that sell at the farmers market during the regular summer season. Customers can choose a small basket for $20 which will include produce, one bread and one or two specialty items like eggs, coffee, honey, jam etc. OR a large basket which will include twice as much produce, one bread and 3 or 4 specialty items. Baskets have to be ordered by Friday and will be able to be picked up here in Manchester on Monday between 1 and 4 pm at the Community Resource Center (CRC), 410 City Rd.

Orders can be completed online at chelseafarmersmkt.org, by mailing in an order form which is available at the CRC, or by calling (616) 734-9123. Payment is due at pick-up and can made by cash, check, credit card or SNAP Bridge Card. In fact, through the Double Up Food Bucks Program, Bridge card users are able to receive double the amount of food – spend $10 from your Bridge and get the $20 value basket, or spend $20 for the $40 value basket.

All proceeds go back to the farmers and vendors.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.