Brattleboro Area Farmer's Market Moves Ahead to Improve Market Site

For more information, please contact: 

• Susan Dunning, Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market, (802) 258-7204
• Joan Weir, Regional Director, Vermont Land Trust, (802) 246-1501

Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market Moves Ahead to Improve Market Site

Many Give Generously

Brattleboro, VT – The Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market has successfully finished a $58,000 fundraising campaign to help with the acquisition and redevelopment of the former Planet Gas station parcel on Route 9. In the coming months, this site will be transformed into space for vending, driveway access, and parking for the Market.

The Market partnered with the Vermont Land Trust to raise this money so the Market could continue to thrive at this location and to meet the needs of its customers.

Now in its 41st season, the Market has more than 50 vendors that set up their tables and displays in a pleasant, shady area along the Whetstone Brook. Nearly 1,500 residents and visitors gather each Saturday from May to October to buy local food and crafts.

The entire redevelopment project cost was $232,400, and much of that was raised in grants and loans, including assistance from the USDA Rural Development program, Vermont Working Lands Enterprise program, and the Windham Regional Commission’s Brownfield Clean Up Grant program. The $58,000 fundraising campaign brought in private donations from nearly 90 people and many local businesses.

A total of $31,000 was raised by several foundations that have supported the Market over the decades including The Windham Foundation, Dunham Mason Fund, Crosby Gannett Fund, Castanea Foundation, and the Thomas Thompson Trust.

Construction activity at the former Planet Gas station is expected to begin this summer. To track activity, check out www.brattleborofarmersmarket.com.

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The Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market is a non-profit organization whose primary goal it to further local production of agricultural products and local crafts and prepared foods on a space-available basis. Further goals are to stimulate growth and variety of farm and homemade products, to provide local products to the customer, and to educate the public about the value of local production. Learn more at www.brattleborofarmersmarket.com.

The Vermont Land Trust is a statewide, member-supported, nonprofit land conservation organization. Since 1977, the Vermont Land Trust has permanently conserved more than 1,800 parcels of land covering 540,000 acres, or nearly nine percent of the private, undeveloped land in the state. The conserved land includes more than 800 working farms, hundreds of thousands of acres of productive forestland, and numerous parcels of community lands. This conservation work changes the lives of families, invigorates farms, launches new businesses, maintains scenic vistas, encourages recreational opportunity, and fosters a renewed sense of community. Learn more at www.vlt.org.