Blog | Danbury Farmers' Market

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

May 1, 2020 by Amy Platt Leave a Comment

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

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.”

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.

Complimentary Parking will be available in the Vazquez SoccerChamp Sports parking lot and the Danbury Train Station parking lot. 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.

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.

The Market accepts EBT/SNAP and Debit/Credit 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.

Thanks to all for our 2020 season success!

November 3, 2020 by Danbury Farmers' Market Leave a Comment

Huge THANKS to all who made the 2020 season huge success- our shoppers, our vendors, our volunteers and our staff! This was a most challenging time!

Opening day with COVID and closing day with snow – and COVID – but we were thrilled to be able to bring all the fabulous local, fresh, delicious food to so many folks!

We applaud everyone for their patience and consideration in following the absolutely necessary COVID precautions to make themselves and every one else as safe as possible. We are thankful there were no issues stemming from the market.

Look for our survey in our next email blast. If you aren’t signed up- go to our website – www.danburyfarmersmarket.org to sign up. We take your input both positive and negative, very seriously. Check out our YouTube channel for new food and fitness videos. We will be posting a few more.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again in 2021 – hopefully, unmasked and back to our more festive markets.

Vegetable Frittata Recipe

August 12, 2020 by Danbury Farmers' Market Leave a Comment

Vegetable Frittata

Jennifer Coatanroch

Quick and Easy, Vegetarian, Dairy free, Gluten free, Nut free, Soy free, Kid friendly

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Course Main Course

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

1-2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 small onion
1 leek, sliced into half moons.
Other vegetable combination ideas: Spinach and artichoke; roasted cauliflower and caramelized onions; mushrooms, onions and peppers; zucchini, tomato and basil. Use any vegetables that you have or that your family enjoys. In total, you want to end up with 3-4 cups of vegetables.
2 cups broccoli* (about 2 crowns)
2-3 cloves garlic
1 tsp basil dried (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
1 tsp thyme dried (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
3/4 tsp salt, or to taste
1 large tomato, sliced
1/2 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
2 1/4 tbsp shredded cheese (dairy or non-dairy)
1/4 cup salsa

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425°
In a medium mixing bowl, add the eggs and whisk until combined. Add the milk, ¼ cup of cheese, and salsa to the bowl, and whisk well. Set aside.
Heat the oil in an oven safe sauté pan** on medium low heat. Add the leeks and onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until they become soft and slightly brown. Then add the broccoli, and sauté for an additional 3 minutes (until it turns bright green and mostly cooked).
Add the garlic, herbs and salt, and cook for an additional minute.
Keeping the pan on medium low, add the egg mixture. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, mix the frittata mixture as if you were going to scramble the eggs. You want them to start cooking to reduce the time in the oven. Stir for about 1 full minute, then turn off the heat.
Place the sliced tomatoes on top of the frittata, and sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
Place in the oven, and cook for 25-35 minutes, depending on the depth of your pan. The frittata is cooked when the egg on top is cooked through.
Let cool for a few minutes, and then enjoy!
** If you don’t have an oven safe pan, follow directions through Step 4. Then, add the frittata mixture to an oven safe baking dish. Place the tomatoes and remaining cheese on top, and cook for 25-35 minutes.

Enjoy for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Video

Notes

Frittata’s are definitely one of my favorite quick, healthy meals to throw together. For SO many reasons.

They are healthier than a quiche since you don’t have the added calories of the crust (granted, I LOVE quiche, but it’s more of a treat).
It is relatively quick and easy to pull together and cook.
ANY vegetables work. Use what’s in season and looks good at the market. And if you don’t have fresh veggies on hand, frozen veggies work just as well!
It works for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
It’s low maintenance, but also fancy enough for a brunch party!

Broccoli is one vegetable that I always have on hand, since it’s the main vegetable my son likes. And if it’s not in season, I always have it in my freezer. So my go-to vegetable for most recipes is broccoli, with something else added for variety. Out of the blue, he started liking mushrooms last week, to my amazement! So I always ask him to try things he didn’t like in the past.

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Healthy Berry Crisp Recipe

July 29, 2020 by Danbury Farmers' Market Leave a Comment

Healthy Berry Crisp

Jennifer Coatanroch

Strawberries & Blueberries

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 5 mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 9

Calories 193 kcal

Ingredients

For the Filling

4 cups diced strawberries
2 cups blueberries
2 tbsp fresh orange juice
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp cornstarch, arrowroot powder, or flouer
1 tsp vanilla

For the Topping

1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup flour (oat, whole wheat, almond, etc.)
3 tbsp melted butter or coconut oil (vegetable oil)
3 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375° F

In a medium mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the filling and mix well. Pour into an ungreased 8"x8" baking dish.
In a separate mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the topping, and mix with a fork until combined. Add additional oil or syrup if the mixture is too dry. Crumble the topping on top of the fruit mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes. If a crisper topping is desired, finish under the broiler for 1 minute.

Video

Notes

Recipe by: Jennifer Coatanroch
https://www.lavieplenty.com/

Nutrition Facts
Servings 9.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 193
Total Fat 6 g	9 %
Saturated Fat 4 g	21 %
Monounsaturated Fat 1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg	0 %
Sodium 2 mg	0 %
Potassium 84 mg	2 %
Total Carbohydrate 33 g	11 %
Dietary Fiber 5 g	19 %
Sugars 11 g
Protein 3 g	6 %
Vitamin A	0 %
Vitamin C	16 %
Calcium	6 %
Iron	7 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Keyword Fruit

DFM receives Fairfield County’s Community Foundation Grant for 2020

June 11, 2020 by Amy Platt Leave a Comment

For the 11th Year Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s Grant to CityCenter Danbury Farmers’ Market Supports Fresh Food for All

DANBURY, Conn. — A $38,000 grant from the Fairfield County’s Community Foundation (FCCF) will enable the CityCenter Danbury Farmers’ Market to make fresh produce accessible to people who might otherwise not have access to healthy food options. The grant also supports new COVID-19 protocols to help keep shoppers safe.

The Danbury Farmers’ Market runs every Friday 10 am to 2 pm, from June 19^th through Oct. 30th at the Danbury Railway Museum.

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation awarded the grant from a component Donor Advised Fund to support the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative’s (DFMCC) Better Food for Better Health program. The donor-advised grant provides seniors, veterans, women, children and SNAP (formerly food stamps) recipients with market cash incentives for produce, and local farmers benefit by selling more produce.

Peggy Zamore, nutritionist and coordinator of the market programs, which is managed by CityCenter Danbury, said, “Over the past eleven years, the Community Foundation has awarded the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative almost $300,000 for our work from this donor-advised fund. The donor advisor, who wishes to remain anonymous, learned about the Danbury Farmers’ Market Community Collaborative many years ago from their philanthropic advisor at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. This significant level of funding is hugely appreciated by the Collaborative and the Danbury community. Without Fairfield County’s Community Foundation continued significant support, our health promoting incentive programs would simply not be possible.”

“Fairfield County’s Community Foundation is proud to support CityCenter Danbury’s Farmers’ Market once again. This support specifically comes from a FCCF donor-advised fund holder, who cares deeply about fresh food access and Connecticut’s working farmers. We are thrilled to help keep this gem of an initiative going strong in downtown Danbury – now more than ever,” remarked Karen R. Brown, the Community Foundation’s Vice President of Development & Philanthropic Services.

Among the services supported by the Community Foundation’s grant are:

Creating a safe space following the COVID 19 protocols
Accepting and matching Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Matching state Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program vouchers, up to $9 per week, for low-income seniors and recipients of The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Providing Market Fruit & Veggie incentive coins for seniors and veterans.
Offering Virtual Nutrition, Health & Fitness information and classes.

This generous donor-advised grant is one example of more than 169 grants totaling over $3.7 million that have been awarded since mid-March 2020 through donor advised funds at Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. A year-over-year comparison shows that during that same period last year the Community Foundation has seen an increase of more than 385% in grants to nonprofit organizations made through the hundreds of donor-advised funds it manages.

About Fairfield County’s Community Foundation

Based in Norwalk Fairfield County’s Community Foundation promotes philanthropy as a means to create change in Fairfield County, focusing on innovative and collaborative solutions to critical issues impacting the community. Individuals, families, corporations and organizations can establish charitable funds or contribute to existing funds. The Community Foundation is in compliance with The Council on Foundations’ national standards and has awarded over $230 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield County and beyond. As a trusted nonprofit partner and thought leader, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation brings together community organizers, business experts and philanthropists to solve our region’s challenges. The Community Foundation’s goal is to create a vital and inclusive community, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive. www.fccfoundation.org

About CityCenter Danbury

CityCenter Danbury’s mission is to foster economic vitality, community engagement and cultural vibrancy in downtown Danbury, CT. For more information, please visit http://www.citycenterdanbury.com/.

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