New regulations cause little concern
By Barbara Perkins

This ribbon cutting on September, 2006 led the way for the Farmers Market to eventually be open every weekend.

The days are longer, the weather has definitely turned and even though the almanac won’t officially reflect it, summer is truly upon us. With the flip of the most recent calendar page, more and more farmers’ markets are starting their season, and Norfolk is no different. In the last twenty years, farmers’ markets have enjoyed growing popularity and their number has multiplied nearly 500% statewide. More amazing is the fact that, for the 2009 season, Norfolk is one of 125 towns (out of the 169 in the state) that will host some kind of official farm market. Beginning Saturday June 6, Norfolk’s Farmers Market and Craft Fair will again occupy the field at the corner of Shepard Road and Route 44 every Saturday, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. 1 p.m. through the end of October. According to Market Manager Lisa Auclair, this year’s market is shaping up to be great. Due to consistent town support and patronage, the decision was made to expand to a weekly event. She was happy to share the news that, in addition to the vendors folks have come to expect such as Chubby Bunny Farm, Barlow Beef and Pittsfield Rye Company, there will be quite a few new faces that are sure to become favorites as well. As if securing sellers, encouraging participation, supporting local agricultural business and providing fresh local produce isn’t enough, a new headache for market managers and steering committees has emerged. The Connecticut Department of Public Health has updated its regulations to include farmers’ markets as sites to be regulated. According to the 122-page document, with very few exceptions anyone altering the natural state of food now must be licensed. While this may not seem to affect a farmers’ market because generally produce is in its natural state, it has forced market managers state-wide to turn away vendors looking to sell home produced foodstuffs, especially baked goods. For newer markets like Norfolk’s, many factors affect vendor participation. The big ones include the state’s comparatively short growing season, the number of established markets competing for farm vendors and the fact that Connecticut is not an agriculturally driven state and thus doesn’t have as many farmers still tilling the land. Combine these obstacles with the new ruling, and there is a definite impact on the local market. As a full time food service professional, Auclair was quick to point out that regulations such as this one, while inconvenient, are to be expected and are in fact necessary. She said, “really, it just comes down to safety and I understand that. I was sorry to have to turn some people away but I don’t want anything to hurt the market.” She went on to mention the Backyard Gardeners table, where people can bring their own homegrown items to sell. Even though folks can’t share their great grandmother’s yummy cookies, they can come and sell their extra cucumbers. Since the vendor’s fees for the table were anonymously donated, anyone can come and share their bounty. Regulations and competition aside, Norfolk residents can look forward to live music every Saturday and an average of 20 vendors per market with some variety depending on what’s in season.