Farmers' market opens in new location

Mandy Traineau of Perkinsville-based Aroma Catering Vt. talks with a customer at the Springfield Farmers' Market Saturday, June 3.

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2017-06-05 / Front Page Farmers' market opens in new location By CAMERON PAQUETTE cameronp@eagletimes.com Mandy Traineau of Perkinsville-based Aroma Catering Vt. talks with customers at the Springfield Farmers' Market Saturday, June 3. — CAMERON PAQUETTE Mandy Traineau of Perkinsville-based Aroma Catering Vt. talks with customers at the Springfield Farmers' Market Saturday, June 3. — CAMERON PAQUETTE SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Baked goods, maple syrup, eggs, handmade candles — classic staples of the Springfield Farmers’ Market were available in abundance for the opening event of the season. What was different for vendors and attendees at Saturday’s opening market was the backdrop, as the 2017 season started at the market’s new location in an open grassy space off lower Clinton Street. “We need a little bit of sunshine,” said Mandy Traineau of Perkinsville-based Aroma Catering Vt. “The grassy area is more inviting.” Traineau had a colorful array of European and Mediterranean recipes on hand Saturday, including pastries, tarts, breads, and chicken paprikash. Aroma Catering Vt. also provides personal chef and catering services, as well as holding cooking classes and catering events. The farmers' market in Springfield is one of a number of area farmers' markets she visits. “Every week I do [recipes from] a different country,” Traineau said. “We bring the world to your table one dish at a time.” Although grey skies and the threat of rain put a slight damper on Saturday’s opening, vendors were optimistic that the market’s new location — a grassy plot of land next to the entrance to the Toonerville Trail and with spacious parking — will bring greater exposure to the market. Prior to this season the farmers’ market was located in the People’s United Bank parking lot downtown. "The market has had many customers mention they would like to see the market held on grass and vendors had been hoping to find a location that would have grass and plenty of parking for customers. This location has both," farmers market officials said in an announcement last month. The Springfield Farmers Market will be at this new location every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. except for Alumni Day June 17, when the market will also go to the downtown area for Market Madness and to Riverside Middle School for the Vermont Apple Festival. The entrance to the parking lot is on the south end of the Robert S. Jones building and has plenty of room for market customers and people using the trail. There are benches for folks to relax and visit, the market will also have canopy-covered tables and chairs where customers can sit and enjoy food items they have purchased at the market or just relax. Jodi Gintof, who operated the Winter View Farm stand along with her son Tanner and husband Steve, said she had already noticed some new customers coming through, along with regulars. Based in Springfield, the Gintofs had a selection of intricate candles carved in the likness of owles, pinecones and squirrels, along with farm produce. “When it’s sunny there’s space to play for the kids,” she said. “It’s a nice open space.”