MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester’s Winter Farmers market kicked off on Saturday at ORR Junior High School, with ten local vendors selling everything from produce to jewelry, live music, and kids’ activities.

Many of the booths at the Nov. 10 market sold non-seasonal products. But Patti Zimmerman, of Patti’s Patch in Westboro, explained how the booths that do sell produce manage to have winter offerings.

“Usually at a winter farmer’s markets it’s just root vegetables,” said Zimmerman, though she explains that she can stretch some summer produce, like tomatoes, by picking them green and having them ripen in a shed.

She added that Skinny Dip, the other produce vendor, was able to grow lettuces using a greenhouse.

Christine Weston helps out part time with farm work at Patti’s Patch. “This is a treat to be able to sell,” she said. She also made the scrubbies, and towels sold at the booth.

Other than produce, this week’s vendors sold cheeses, wampum jewelry, alpaca wool, hats and gloves, funache (a fudge and chocolate blend), essential oils, teas, and maple syrup. Nicole Davignon from the Elizabeth Taber library also held a Thanksgiving themed Story Time for kids for an hour. 

Audrey Knox serves as Market Manager, a role she got from her sister. This is her second winter managing, and she has managed one summer farmer’s market as well.

“It takes a lot of emails. We have to get multiple permits to use the building, the janitor has to be here to open the doors,” Knox said, to describe the process of organizing the market. Fortunately, the market is funded by the Town of Mattapoisett, so she doesn’t have to worry about funding it, just organizing it. 

The winter farmer’s market is held on the second and fourth Saturday of every month through March 23, and features different vendors every time.