The Peterborough Farmers’ Market will be open through the winter for the first time this year.

The market, which will be open every  Wednesday afternoon from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Peterborough Community Center at 25 Elm St, will move back outside to the center front lawn in April. In previous years, the market ran indoors through Christmas, but this year, it will come back after New Year’s Day and run in the center through the end of March.

“We’re are so happy with the support we’re getting from the community. The number of customers is up  significantly  from last year,” said Conrad Dumas, director of the market. “Last November, we averaged 117 people a week, and this year, we are up to 200. People really support the local vendors, local food and products.”

The market started nearly two decades ago at the Peterborough Unitarian Church, later moved to Depot Square and in recent years found a home at the Peterborough Community Center. Maggie Sauvain, who has sold her her homegrown perennials from Stonegate Farm at the market for the past 15 summers, said while the community center lacks foot traffic, it has much better parking than the Depot Square location. 

“It’s a very well-run market,” Sauvain said. 

Diane Jones and Skip Walker, who come from Athol, Mass., to sell Skip’s homemade pepper jams and jellies, said they love the sense of community at the Peterborough Farmers’ Market. 

“We’ve been here nine years and it’s just a great market. People come back the next week and tell us how much they liked our product. Everybody is just wonderful,” Jones said.

Deb Waldinger of Antrim, who sells Calcite & Comfrey tinctures,  said she appreciates being able connect with farmers and the local community all year long.  

“It’s all about building relationships with customers, making that connection,  seeing them every week,” Comfrey said. 

Benjee and Sara Brinson of Keene, owners of Benjees Cookies, were at the indoor market for their second time Wednesday. Benjee Brinson said they were off to a great start.

“Usually, at farmers’ markets, people wander around a bit and check things out and think about it a while before they make a purchase, but as soon as we got here,  people just started walking right up and buying, and we actually sold out of cookies the first week,” he said. “We’ll be here all winter.” 

John Ellingwood of Antrim’s Flag Leaf Bakery, which makes bread and pastry, said he can only bring bread to the market as the bakery’s pastry is too labor-intensive. 

“My partner stays home and bakes on Wednesdays, so I’m here on my own. I can’t do the pastry boxes and sell bread at the same time, but we’ve had a great response on the bread. People keep coming back and supporting us, and we’re very grateful,” Ellingwood said. 

Flag Leaf posts their weekly menu online every Thursday.

Laura Vaccari of Peterborough said she supports the market, especially because of local produce, meat and baked goods available.

“It’s wonderful to see local food and promote local food at a time when our food is so iffy,” Vaccari said. “This should be the future of food – local products.”

Dumas, who is the market’s vendor coordinator,  said spots at the market are still available for winter and spring 2024. Interested vendors should send email to peterboronhfarmersmarket@gmail.com for an application.