Today marks the final day of our 2026 Farmers’ Market season. Every Monday, farmers and vendors gather on the green to share their crop, whether they are vegetables, fruits, or cookies and cakes, with Stratford and our community members, some joining us on Mondays even from as far as Naugatuck and Newtown.
What does a Farmers’ Market provide for a community?
The market that lives on Paradise Green from June – October gives everyone in our community the opportunity to have access to Connecticut grown vegetables and fruits. To give “access” means there are choices available for people and families. The option to show up and support the farmers and vendors, to choose locally-made items like t-shirts, soaps, and more means we are actively choosing to participate in another’s livelihood.
Why do partnerships matter?
In recent years, the Paradise Green Farmers’ Market has partnered with the Bridgeport Farmers’ Market Collaborative, a nonprofit focused on combating nutrition insecurity in neighborhoods lacking access to fresh, Connecticut-Grown produce. In doing so, the collaborative provides Bridgeport Bucks to shoppers, a $5 coupon to be used during the market for purchases on fruits and vegetables. These bucks are offered to all, and while there is a limited supply of coupons, anyone can use them. And the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a partnership that allows the market to accept SNAP benefits, including the SoliMarket Shopper Card, a card which provides financial assistance to seniors and individuals with disabilities to use and shop at the market. Not only do these broader partnerships matter for the market, but the partnerships and relationships built with the farmers and vendors matter too! The Stratford Health Department provides oversight to ensure food safety and the Stratford Police Department provides traffic control to ensure safety for shoppers and pedestrians alike.
Earlier this year, the Fairfield County Community Foundation published a report chronicling the impact of food insecurity in Connecticut over the years. It noted that, “Chronic food insecurity reduces workforce participation and lifetime income, increases reliance on public assistance, and raises costs across systems ranging from healthcare to education to housing. Unlike short‑term hunger, which can often be resolved with timely support, long‑term food insecurity compounds over years and generations, producing substantially higher economic and societal costs.” Farmers’ markets provide a reliable, seasonal, and familiar opportunity for people to improve their health both inside and out. From farm fresh eggs, to oils, and sourdough bread, the market also provides us with time to spend with a neighbor or make a new friend, which supports our health too.
While this season has come to an end, please consider supporting the 2027 farmers’ market—it’s good for your health, and the health of our Stratford community.
If you or someone you know would like to become a vendor for the 2027 Farmers’ Market, applications will be available on January 1, 2027. You can email the Paradise Green Farmers’ Market team here: paradisegreenmarket@gmail.com.
