New indoor farmers market opens at Bedford Fields

Thursday, January 13, 2011

BEDFORD – In an effort to keep people shopping locally through the winter, Bedford Fields Garden Center has started a short series of indoor farmers markets that will run through the end of February and offer products made by New Hampshire residents.

Bedford Field’s Uniquely NH Winter Market has three more days of the market scheduled for Saturdays – Jan. 22, Feb. 5 and 19, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Coordinator and Nursery Manager Anita Stevens said the idea for the market came to her after many customers asked that more New Hampshire products be available at the store.

“I’m also feeling that local New Hampshire businesses need to work together to keep our New Hampshire customers supporting our own businesses,” Stevens said. “They can come into our shop to see what is interesting rather than just getting on the computer and buying from the big companies. There is just so much to offer, even way more than I knew when I started this project; so many great things just really close by.”

Vendors include local bakers, cooks and artisans. Collectively, 20 vendors will participate in this year’s winter market.

One of them is Meghan McGee of Meghan’s Chocolates in Weare. In order to keep things interesting and appealing, McGee said she will change her list of baked goods and confections at each market.

“Some items will be staples, but new baked goods will be added or substituted each time,” McGee said.

Items will include a variety of cookies, brownies, gluten free/vegan brownies, whoopie pies, assorted bars, donuts, English Butter Toffee, chocolate covered caramel, chocolate covered fudge and gourmet caramel apples.

McGee said that participating in the Uniquely NH Winter Market gives her the opportunity to share her confections with a number of different clients who may not otherwise know of her product.

Susanne Stretch, of Laurel Hill Jams and Jellies in Bedford, has been selling her product at Bedford Fields for about a year. She sells more than 40 different items including Wedding Wine jelly favors for the bride and groom that are available with custom labels.

“Most fruits are local,” Stretch said. “I pick them, juice/prepare them and turn them into a delicious product. Some are organic.”

At this year’s winter market, Stretch will offer samples of different products along with a chocolate cream cheese spread, a fig jam bruschetta spread and mini-cheesecakes with a wine jelly topping.

Karen Steuer of Hemlock Springs Cottage in Lyndeborough has been crafting soaps for more than 10 years and will offer a number of her products at the market, including handmade goat milk and shea butter soaps, lotions, serums, balms, home fragrance and cleaning products.

According to Stevens, half of the vendors will display a variety of gourmet foods and the other half will sell handcrafted artisan items.

“It’s a very nice mix of products,” the nursery manager said. “Everything from handmade organic dog biscuits to jam and jelly, someone spinning alpaca fibers and beautiful jewelry. All kinds of great things.”

For now, the event is limited to 20 vendors on each date. “I think 20 is what we can hold comfortably,” Stevens said. “If it is a huge success than we may re-evaluate other space inside the store. Wouldn’t that be great if that happened?”

Stevens believes the event holds great promise and is excited to see customers and vendors doing business together at the local level.

“Anita Stevens of Bedford Fields is the brain behind all this,” Stretch said. “(It was) her idea, organization and effort to bring it to fruition.” According to Stretch, the number of vendors Stevens has accommodated is even more than some summer markets.

“In addition to the market event that takes place on those days we have several New Hampshire-made products that we carry all the time in the store,” Stevens said. “I am hoping people will come in and enjoy the whole store, have a cup of coffee and just enjoy Bedford Fields if they haven’t come here before and share some fun times with neighbors and other people in town.”

For a list of vendors or for more information, visit www.bedfordfields.com/eventspromos.html. Bedford Fields is at 331 Route 101, Bedford.