Agriculture moves indoors
Maple Grove market provides products year-round
November 13, 2016
As the winter season approaches, junior Jacob Zweigbaum said he feels people should continue to support the agriculture and the local foods found in farmers markets.
Zweigbaum said after visiting farmers markets during the summer growing season, he believes the Indoor Farmers Market in Maple Grove is a great extension of agriculture into the winter.
“I think that it’s a great way to support agriculture in the winter. We live in a state where a primary part of the year is winter, so it’s just another good way to support it,” Zweigbaum said.
According to Farmers Market Manager Kirsten Weigle, the Indoor Farmers Market in Maple Grove is open for its 12th season this year. Weigle said the market features solely locally grown food and occasionally some consumable products.
“(The market) features food products that are made or grown locally,” Weigle said. “Our farmers market has always chosen to feature foods, edible products. Sometimes we do include a consumable item, so things like locally made soaps or other bath and body products.”
Weigle said in addition to the advantage of disregarding winter weather concerns, the indoor market offers visitors a different experience than an outdoor farmers market.
“It’s a really different feel. We notice that folks are able to connect with the vendor a little more and might spend a little more time learning about where and how things are grown,” Weigle said.
According to freshman Meley Getachew, an indoor market has benefits during the winter, as it offers access to agriculture and food products.
“Since it snows a lot in Minnesota, it would be better if we had a farmer’s market indoors instead of outdoors,” Getachew said.
Weigle said the farmers market appeals to youth interested in connecting with local farmers as well as finding unique products and ingredients to cook with.
“A lot of young people are really interested in hearing more about where their food comes from, and connecting locally and eating healthily,” Weigle said. “If you’re interested in cooking and you really want to work with fresh ingredients or try some really unique flavors, it’s the place to be.”
The Indoor Farmers Market is open from 3-6 p.m. on select Thursdays through May and is located at the Maple Grove Community Center. For more information, go to maplegrovemn.gov.
