Four Seasons Farmers and Artisans Market now open in Wheat Ridge!
The Four Seasons Farmers and Artisans Market is a year-round, indoor farmers market dedicated to giving consumers an opportunity to support local entrepreneurs, farms and gardens and to purchase fresh, safely produced food at a fair price year-round. Products available include: free range chicken and duck eggs, winter squash, carrots, greens, grass-fed beef, pork, jams and jellies, fresh breads and pies, milk, goat cheese, handmade soap, art by local artists and much more.
Location: 7043 West 38th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, 80033 (a few blocks east of Wadsworth)
Regular market hours:
Saturdays, 9am-1pm, open for shopping until 3pm
Sundays, 10am-2pm
Store open for shopping: Tuesday – Friday noon to 6 pm
Some vendors also make their products available for sale during the week
The founders of the new market are Dick and Margaret Barkey, who also own and operate Colorado Wise Acres Farm near Ft. Lupton. As small producers, they are striving to create a year-round market in the Denver area that provides the opportunity for local farmers and artisans to market their products and meet their customers year-round. However, the vision of the Four Seasons Farmers and Artisans Market extends beyond simply a farmers market. In addition to quality, local food and locally crafted products, the market will provide a gathering space for the community. Meeting space at the market will be made available to non-profit, civic and other groups for a small fee, and this space will also be used for classes related to gardening, food preparation, art creation and more.
During the weekly Saturday market, freshly made gourmet organic coffee is available to enjoy with baked goods, and customers will also be entertained by live music performances. The recent Grand Opening featured a fantastic jazz band of local college and high school students. The Four Seasons Market offers a great venue for talented amateur, student and professional musicians to perform, and we look forward to hosting a wide range of musicians at the market!
The Four Seasons Market is a response to the growing local foods movement. There is an increasing demand for quality food that is locally grown by small farmers who take great care in producing food. This demand is complemented in the farmers market setting by giving consumers the opportunity to meet, talk with, and get to know the people who grow and prepare the food.
Farmers markets deliver fresher food than the grocery store: most produce in the US is picked 4 to 7 days before being placed on supermarket shelves, and is shipped for an average of 1500 miles before being sold (source: localharvest.com). The produce (and yes, there is some produce at the Four Seasons Market even in the winter!) at a farmers market is usually picked the day before the market.
Handcrafted products by small, local producers make wonderful holiday gifts, host/hostess gifts and thank you gifts are also available at the Four Seasons Market. Several larger art pieces at reasonable prices are perfect additions for home or office.
Farmers markets have a big local economic impact and Wheat Ridge and nearby areas will benefit. Studies show that when purchases are made from local business, a much larger portion of customers’ money goes back to the community via other local businesses, service providers and farms, while contributing to the local tax base. The Four Seasons Market is not just one, but about 20 local businesses!
For more information go to: www.FourSeasonsFAM.com or www.Facebook.com/fourseasonsfam