CitySeed Reemerges

New Haveners flocked to Edgewood Park to stock up on fresh veggies, fruit, and flowers Sunday at the opening of CitySeed’s annual farmers market.

The market, which typically runs every Sunday morning from May through November, was delayed so that CitySeed could properly comply with Covid-19 regulations. These regulations included spacing vendors at least eight feet apart and requiring masks for all vendors and customers. Volunteers were also stationed around the market keeping it under capacity at the entrance, directing the customers in a one way flow, and marking lines for each vendor with spray paint.

This year, five local vendors set up shop at the market. All of the vendors except Washington, Conn.-based The Traveling Farmer, had sold at the market before.

Farmer Rae Moore started The Traveling Farmer five years ago and has been selling at other New Haven markets for three years. Moore grows all the veggies herself and although she’s not certified organic, she said she grows all her produce organically and sustainably.

Moore said she wasn’t an outdoorsy kid, but got interest in urban farming in college and ended up with an environmental studies degree. After college, she worked at a few organic farms and research farms before deciding to start her own where she grew up in Connecticut.

Moore does not have a farm stand, but made a pre-order website this year and sells at the Washington Depot farmers market. With coronavirus, Moore said ​“It’s a little extra work to get the equipment and PPE, but overall my work pace hasn’t changed.”

Moore loaded a truck full of zucchini, squash, bok choy, and kale and set up her stand which was the closest to the entrance at the Edgewood market.

Rising Yale seniors Laurie Roark and Alma Bitran came to the market in search of kale. Right away, they were greeted by bundles of the green veggie at The Traveling Farmer’s table. They wound up buying an entire bag full of Moore’s curly kale.

In past years, Bitran said. she used to go to the Wooster Square farmers market every weekend and was very happy the markets are opening up again.

Roark said she decided to come to the market when she got the alert it was opening in the CitySeed newsletter. ​“I love going to the farmers market and I love vegetables and I love buying from local farmers when I can.”

Four Root Farm co-owner and farmer Rachel Berg was selling organic vegetables and cut flowers at the market. She sells at Wooster Square’s market on Saturdays and the Madison Farmers market on Fridays. Berg actually got her start in farming after working for CitySeed and volunteering on farms in the area. ​“I figured I would just work on a farm until I figured out what I wanted to do next.” 

To sell during Covid, Berg made a preorder system on their website which she said has been working well, but was difficult to set up. She said maintaining social distancing on the farm and getting PPE also created challenges.

Berg said the East Haddam-based farm does not have a stand because they are off the beaten path and don’t get much traffic. Berg had been collaborating with a coffee shop in town to set one up outside, but those plans were pushed off when Covid hit.

Additionally, because many farmers markets were closed, Berg started allowing socially distanced on farm pickups Sunday mornings. Berg said their customer base is largely from New Haven, but the on farm pickups have expanded their base. ​“We were really excited about being in the community we are farming in.”

CitySeed Director of Markets Erin Carey said figuring out timing and how the lines should work was tricky. CitySeed originally planned to require reservations for the first hour at 10 a.m. and open walk-ups from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., but started allowing walk-ups by 10:20.

“We had to figure out what’s best for the vendors and customers and make sure people have access to good foods but without putting anybody at risk. That’s why we tried not to make any drastic, sudden decisions ever and really think it through and see what’s going on.”

The Wooster Square Socially Distanced Farmers Market is running from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. next Saturday and has been relocated from its usual location at Russo Park to Conte West Hills School to maintain social distancing.