Apr. 3—The smell of freshly ground coffee beans and the sound of bluegrass trickled through the Boulder County Farmers Market on Saturday where vendors sold crates piled with fresh vegetables, potted herbs, trays of baked goods and jars of amber honey at the fairgrounds in Longmont.
Hundreds moved among the booths Saturday in both Boulder and Longmont for the markets' opening day of the season, which runs through Nov. 19. After months of winter, vendors, organizers and visitors alike said they were glad to see the market make its return.
Longmont's market featured dozens of vendors and live music from bluegrass band Orchard Creek.
Browsing pots of herbs at Aspen Moon Farms' booth were Brenna Giannini and Patryck Minter. The Longmont couple had just arrived at the market at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. It was the first time Minter had visited the market.
"I wanted to see what they had," Minter said.
Giannini said she wanted to show Minter the farmers market, while also supporting local businesses.
"We moved to Texas last year, and they didn't have stuff like this," she said. "This (farmers market) is one of many across the Front Range. Every weekend you can go and check out local companies."
Mickey Davis, Boulder County Farmers Market food access specialist, watched as customers, farmers and small business owners talked face-to-face Saturday. She said she "loves the community that the market creates."
This season, Davis said farmers market staff hope to spread the word about available food access programs, including the Double Up Food Bucks program. For every dollar that a person spends on their SNAP EBT card, the market will match up to $20. Those interested in using the program can go to the information booth at the farmers market to find out more about how the program works and redeem their farmers market dollars.
Behind a table of potted spinach, lettuce, sugar snap peas and arugula, Dave Thomas sold "plant starts" from his Rough and Ready Farm in Longmont.
Thomas has been vending at the Boulder County Farmers Market since last year.
"This is our main marketing outlet," Thomas said.
Thomas said he was enjoying the sunny spring day, as temperatures climbed into the 60s. He said he looked forward to just being at the farmers market this season and seeing all the people.
After securing some tamales, a kale plant, kombucha and fresh lamb, Mellie Lonnemann and her family were on the hunt for fresh eggs Saturday at the fairgrounds.
While her husband, Peter Alexanian, searched a nearby booth, Lonneman waited with their 3-year-old son Joseph.