Danbury Farmers' Market

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Danbury Railway Museum, Danbury, CT
Complimentary Parking - Train Station
203-792-1711

Danbury Farmers’ Market Will Open June 19th in a New Location with COVID19 Protocols

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The Danbury Farmers’ Market is on the move this summer, with a new day and location.

Fridays, from 10am – 2pm
June 19 through October 30
Danbury Railway Museum
120 White Street in downtown Danbury!

Protocols in place for safety first!

To keep farmers and shoppers safe during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Danbury Farmers’ Market in coordination with the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services has adopted new protocols with guidance from CT Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control. Vendors and shoppers will be required to wear face masks, wash their hands at designated hand washing stations, and practice physical distancing. “Farmers markets have been deemed essential providing food access to our community, and we will continue to do so as safely as possible during the public health emergency,” said Betsy Paynter, Executive Director CityCenter Danbury. “Our farmers market has always been a vibrant community space where many shoppers gather to socialize, listen to music, and take part in nutrition demonstrations in addition to purchasing groceries. However, for the time being, our primary purpose is to provide a safe space for residents to make quick trips to get fresh groceries. All nutrition demonstrations and music are postponed indefinitely.”

Accessible to both residents and employees

Future construction around the CityCenter Green prompted the exploration of a new market location. “We’re optimistic about the Danbury Farmers’ Market new day and location, only a short walk from Main Street and WCSU’s midtown campus. A Friday market will allow both employees and residents in the community to shop for fresh produce in downtown. Thank you to the Danbury Railway Museum for their partnership,” said Paynter.

Parking and buses

Parking will be available in the Vazquez SoccerChamp Sports parking lot, the Danbury Train Station parking lot and the Patriot Garage. Limited handicap parking will be available at the Danbury Railway Museum, along with parking for farmers and vendors. HARTransit bus stops are conveniently located nearby at Leahy’s Fuel and the Danbury Metro-North Train Station.

Celebrating our 10th year!

The Danbury Farmers’ Market, now in its tenth year, is coordinated by the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative, a 30-member group representing a wide variety of community agencies, in partnership with CityCenter Danbury. It will continue to be a great place to purchase local produce in downtown Danbury.

EBT/Snap and special incentives

The Market accepts EBT/SNAP and Debit cards! SNAP benefits will be matched for any dollar amount for SNAP recipients using their EBT cards. Special incentives are available for Veterans, seniors, and WIC recipients.

There’s no better way to strengthen our local community than to shop and eat locally! By shopping the Danbury Farmers’ Market, you support our local famers, businesses and community members.

Visit DanburyFarmersMarket.org/protocols for the full list of market protocols. Weekly updates can also be found on Facebook @danburyfarmersmarket.

Mealtime Struggles Banished – Visit the Farmers’ Market

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Mealtime Struggles Banished

written by

Kris Louis

We grew up in an era of TV dinners, Saturday morning cartoons, and drinking water from the garden hose. As our parents prioritized convenience over health, so too do we in our children’s world, which is an ever-on-the-go lifestyle. Combined with an innate preference for sweetness, today’s lifestyles can make it difficult to convince children (and adults, if we’re honest) to ditch the chicken nuggets for a variety of healthy food options.

So, how’s a parent supposed to win dinner-time battles when time and money are a premium?

 Swap grease for the grill

There is no denying that grilled foods are healthier than those deep-fried and battered. Grilling, especially if you have a propane unit, may actually even be faster than frying and comes with the added benefit of exceptional flavor. When you grill foods, their natural flavors are more prominent and they will wind up juicier and more visually appealing. Be cautious when you fire up the backyard barbecue, however, as an unmaintained grill can cause injuries. Angie’s List offers grilling safety tips for both gas and charcoal grills.

 Make each night unique

 While leftovers are certainly a staple for lunch, avoid the temptation to overcook on Monday and eat the same thing throughout the week. Variety is the spice of life, and that’s not just hyperbole. Give your family a taste tour with themed dinner nights. And we’re not just talking about taco Tuesday. You might, for instance, plan a slow cooker Sunday, Mediterranean Monday, or sushi Saturday. Slender Kitchen offers more ideasand links to numerous healthy recipes, including baked blackened tilapia and roasted poblano cheeseburgers.

Visit the Farmers’ Market

 Your farmers market has so much more than vegetables. These often open-air marketplaces will allow your children the opportunity to meet and greet the people that grow their food. They will be awarded an opportunity to taste new things, especially at the beginning of each season when farmers are more than happy to slice open a watermelon or dice up a few peaches to tempt tiny taste buds. Plus, it is a fun afternoon outing that will give you and your family a chance to unplug.

 Go for diversity

 It is not enough to swap up your style of cooking, if you want to truly enjoy health benefits, you need to include a diverse range of foods. In other words, beef tacos followed by Mongolian steak and noodles won’t cut it. Dr. Deanna Minich, author of The Rainbow Diet, explains that eating foods from a number of categories will enhance the diversity of your gut microbes, lower your risk of developing a food allergy or intolerance, and help reduce systemic inflammation that can lead to chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

 Don’t skip the grains

 Grains get a bad reputation. Foods such as white bread and flour-based cakes aren’t the best option for a healthy diet, but the Mayo Clinic asserts that a diet rich with whole grains is actually good for you. Sources of whole grains include brown rice, oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, and pasta for you spaghetti lovers. Even more good news: popcorn is considered a grain. Just make sure you use an air popper and don’t smother it in salt and butter.

 Let the kids lend a hand

 Finally, if you want your entire family to eat well, you have to give even the smallest members of your pack a voice when it comes to what they eat. This does not mean you have to let your four-year-old dictate dinner, but listen to their concerns about the menu. Kids should also be encouraged to help out in the kitchen. One great way to keep them interested is to let them pair some of their favorite fruits and vegetables with things they may not like. For instance, raisins go quite well with hot oatmeal, and there are few things more delicious and refreshing than a strawberry and spinach salad.

 

End the Veggie Battle With Your Children

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End the Veggie Battle With Your Children

What’s the deal with vegetables and so many kids’ reluctance to eat them? If you, like millions of equally frustrated parents, fear that nary a leafy lettuce leaf or crunchy carrot ever will pass through your child’s clamped lips, do not despair! Try these suggestions:

Variety! Cooked vegetables don’t haveto be boring. Boiling a vegetable for 10 minutes in unsalted water and plopping them seasoned with just a bit of salt on a plate isn’t appetizing at all! To change things up, check out these recipes.

Get excited! You don’t have to hold a pep rally with every vegetable dish, but excitement’s contagious. Who wouldn’t want to see why you’re super excited about eating squash?

Be a role model.Set good examples with your own eating.

Prep the kids!Don’t surprise your kiddos with something brand new on their plates, especially if they’re naturally suspicious of “new stuff.” Invite them to check out the vegetable before you cook it and then explain to them what you’re adding to the dish to make it taste good.

Invite them into the kitchen.Let your kids squash a tomato, peel a carrot, or slice a cucumber with a kid-safe nylon knife(yes, they really work). Give them a tour of your spice rack and ask them to choose the flavors to add to cooking vegetables (and other foods).

Go for raw! Many kids don’t like the texture of cooked vegetables, but a crunchy baby carrot or cauliflower florette tastes great dunked in a little hummus or veggie dip.

Introduce foods early.A baby’s taste buds are most receptive to change between age seven and 12 months. If you start with too-bland foods, introducing stronger flavors later can cause “taste bud overload.”

Don’t ask your kid to taste, eat, or try a vegetable. Instead — invite your child to interact with the vegetable in a different way. Create a contest to see which of your children can crunch celery the loudest.

Create a reward chart. If charts motivate your kiddos, use a reward chartfor them to track how many fruits and vegetables they eat each day.

Don’t force kids to eat what they don’t like. It can take eight to 10 (or more) times of presenting a new foodbefore a kiddo decides she likes it. Try the “one bite, chew & swallow” rule.

Disguise them!Puree vegetables like carrots and spinach and add them to spaghetti sauce. Dice carrots, celery, and leafy vegetables, and add them (with little beans) to chicken or other soups. Add to a smoothie. Sometimes changing the presentation’s all it takes.

Take him shopping.Spend time wandering through the produce section. Allow your kiddo to touch the different vegetables and fruits to feel the textures and check out their smells.

Visit the Farmers Market

 Want your kids to experience shopping in a completely new way? Take them to the farmers market! They’re perfect for teaching your kids about food and its sources. Plus, many vendors offer samples and that encourages everyone to try new textures, flavors, and ingredients.

Often, you get to meet the farmers — and then the kids have a chance to ask a lot of questions. If your farmers market is open year-round, it’s also an opportunity for your children to see how local produce changes with the seasons. Make a game out of choosing one new vegetable or fruit to try each week. Encourage your kids to pick the new food and help you look for recipes when you’re ready to prepare it.

In addition to providing an opportunity to see food closer to its source, farmers markets reinforce the value of local food and community building. These markets thrive when they’re well-supported, because you’re buying food directly from the farmers.

The best advice? Approach vegetables with a new eye: relax your ideas of what vegetables should taste like. Try new presentations and new flavors. Add different spices, herbs, and other ingredients. If you’re having fun with vegetables, your kids will want in on that fun, too.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

DIRECTIONS & PARKING

Market held at Danbury Railway Museum.
Complimentary Parking - Train Station.

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Upcoming Events

  1. 2020 OPENING DAY @ Danbury Railway Museum Friday 6/19

    June 19 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

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