Photographer Dan Usner visited us in October 2016 and his series of images is available online. Check out the view of the market on a warm and sunny fall day.

We have just completed another great season. See you at the market in 2017!

The 2016 contest winners.

WINNERS: ESPAÑOLA FARMERS’ MARKET

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL BIGGEST VEGETABLE & BEST POEM CONTEST

October 10, 2016

Vegetable Judge:  Sandra Cata, Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area staff

BIGGEST HEIRLOOM PUMPKIN

First Place:                   Ross Vargas, La Madera

Second Place:             Ross Vargas, La Madera         

PRETTIEST PUMPKIN

First Place:                   Luz and Jose Lopez, Nambe & El Guique

Second Place:             Josie Gallegos and Jose Velasquez, Alcalde

Third Place:                  Ross Vargas, La Madera

BIGGEST CHILE

First Place:                   Tory Wildharber, La Mesilla     

Second Place:             Esmeralda Orozco, El Guique 

Third Place:                  Luz and Jose Lopez, Nambe & El Guique

PRETTIEST RISTRA

First Place:                   Alejandro Gonzales, Los Luceros

Second Place:             Daniel Corona, Espanola       

Third Place:                  Luz and Jose Lopez, Nambe & El Guique

BIGGEST ROOT VEGETABLE

First Place:                   Luz and Jose Lopez, Nambe & El Guique

Second Place:             Daniel Corona, Espanola

Third Place:                  Esmeralda Orozco, El Guique

ODDEST VEGETABLE

First Place:                    Luz and Jose Lopez, Nambe & El Guique

Second Place:             Belita Martinez, El Rito

Third Place:                  Dexter Trujillo, Abiquiu

WILD CARD VEGETABLE

First Place:                   Jesus Zavala, Ezpanola

Second Place:             Richard Aguilar

Third Place:                  Eddie Campos, El Rito

BIGGEST APPLE

First Place:                    Antonio and Marie Maestas, Chamita

Second Place:             Ross Quintana, Sombrillo

Third Place:                  Macey Martinez, El Rito

BEST DRIED CORN

First Place:                    Jon Naranjo, Espanola Market Field

Thanks to Joan Logghe of La Puebla for her Apple Poem reading!

Contest coming soon & celebrate year ten of the Española Farmers Market blog with videos

The 17th annual "Biggest Vegetable and Best Poem Contest" is an annual event worth celebrating. A new supply of market aprons in different colors and sizes has many visitors to the Monday markets checking at the headquarters booth. Ask about children's books, market news, and participate in great conversation.

Follow the Española Farmers Market on Twitter.

Another way to observe the tenth anniversary of the Española Farmers Market is to look at our videos on our YouTube channel. Here are a few examples:

An overview of the market on YouTube.

A great day at the Española Farmers Market.

Variety of images of Española Farmers Market sum up the fun.

High summer highlights at the Española Farmers Market.

Reminder about Española Farmers Market extras!

Don't forget the 17th annual Biggest Vegetable and Best Poem Contest. There's also a new supply of market aprons in different colors and sizes.

FOLLOW ESPANOLA FARMERS MARKET ON TWITTER!

Fall harvest means pumpkins and Spanish squash

You can pick up the 2014 and 2015 farmers' market postcards. Right now there is a fresh supply of market aprons and t-shirts in many colors and sizes.

Once the market is flooded with squash and pumpkins, you'll be thinking about pies and special dishes.

October 31st is the last day for the Española Farmers Market!

Get there in time to pick out great squash and pumpkins.

FREE CHILE ROASTING AND CHILE COOK-OFF ON LABOR DAY!

IT'S GOING TO BE A MEMORABLE DAY ON MONDAY, September 5, 2016, all day. There's free chile roasting with each bushel of chiles.

See you at the Española Farmers Market!

Spread the word about the Española Farmers Market!

BREAKING NEWS:

NO FRIDAY MARKETS so far this season because of grasshoppers. But never fear! The Monday markets are as busy as ever!

LABOR DAY FREE CHILE ROASTING AND HEIRLOOM CHILE COOK-OFF will be held on September 5, 2016, all day. There's free chile roasting with each bushel of chiles.

We support our farmers' market. Locally-grown produce is fresher, cheaper, and healthy. It's what the people of Northern New Mexico have relied on over the two decades that we have been in operation. And with the summer weekly markets, we have it all.

Why settle for produce shipped long distances when you can roll out of bed and be at the local farmers' market in no time!

Treat yourself, friends, and family members. Cook up a storm like at no other time during the year. And make sure you set aside time in October when the abundance is plentiful. Do you have friends visiting from out of town? Take them to the market. Chat with the growers about how to cook those special foods you can't get anywhere else.

Cook up a storm starting on Monday and continue serving fresh foods through the following weekend.

We accept WIC, Senior WIC, EBT (SNAP) and Debit as well as cash. Kids are happy when visiting the market because they get to choose a book at the main table. It's free. Stroll in our wildflower garden. See what's growing in the community field. Bring along friends, family members, and guests from out of town.

For more information, call 505-685-4842.

Honest sweat goes into the produce available weekly!

The word has been spreading about the sweat and love and joy that goes into growing and selling the produce available at the Española Farmers Market. We've been doing this for 20 years here in Northern New Mexico. Twenty years ago when we got started, a farmers' market was a novelty. We led the way and have shown people all over the country that we mean business when it comes to great food.

Our best produce isn't covered with plastic wrap at the grocery store. That may be fine after the growing season is over. But we get to handle the squash, pick over the best cukes, chat with the producers. Many of them are our own friends and neighbors. And when you stop by, listen to the great music, pick a book at the main table for the young ones, and talk to the growers. You'll get a sense of being in a hub of vitality.

Some of our customers are from out of the area. They want more than to go to the usual tourist spots where they don't get to know the people who live here. Everyone is friendly at the Española Farmers' Market. Our growers are committed to sustainable agriculture and community-based fun.

Support the Espaõla Farmers Market. Look for the bilingual recipe cards that have great suggestions about how to prepare some of the unique New Mexico produce. Stroll around the wildflower garden and see how the soil is being prepared to host magnificent flowers. Wander beyond the plaza to check out what's growing in the far plot. Every market offers something new!

Become a Farm Fan of the Española Farmers market!

October 31st is the last market for 2016!

Mark your calendar for the last Española Farmers Market for 2016.

Part of running a farmers market involves educating people about the produce. Many people joke about their addiction to Northern New Mexico chiles and how they enjoy them all year round by freezing them. At the end of the market, lots of customers stock up on winter squash and other hardy veggies.

It became clear not long ago that some unique local specialities required special instruction in order to appreciate them. ENTER: the bilingual recipe cards. When you're at the market ask about them. Our special events during the summer also make everyone aware of what's good on the produce tables and some of the recommended ways of preparation.

Check this blog for more information about the heritage chile festival, the annual potluck, the best vegetable contest and much more. Stop by the administration tent to have your questions answered. Also, free books for young people. See you there!

Radio program: Behind the scenes at the Española Farmers Market!

We made the college radio and what fun! Check it out and don't forget the July 4th market!

The Española Farmers Market just doesn't pop up every season without a great deal of preparation going into it. The work goes on all year long in terms of the networking and planning. There are folks who stop by regularly to share information and news. Planting has been ongoing in the small gardens in the front of the market and annual maintenance is essential. Many thanks to everyone who helped get the market  ready for 2016.

For each market Monday, signs are placed at strategic locations all over town so that everyone is reminded that it's Monday. There are grants to apply for each year. Plus so many folks to thank who have made special contributions, like our musicians and vendors.

And all through of this, there's participation by a wide range of individuals like you.

In addition to volunteers, many donate what's needed to keep the market going, and those whose questions need to be answered. If you're brimming with questions, stop by the administration table and speak to Sabra or Norma.. Also, drop by the main table for some shade and an opportunity to visit. Find out about the bilingual recipe cards. You'll be glad you did! 

IT'S A MARKET DAY TODAY!

The Espanola Farmers Market on Vimeo.

Next Monday is the 4th of July, and if there's a day to visit the Española Farmers Market, this is it!!! Stop by for the festivities.

As part of our ongoing celebration of the tenth year of the Española Farmers Market BLOG, we present our video from 2012. By going back into time, we remember what is new and what continues. Go to the right of this posting to click on the links of market blog highlights starting in 2007 that continue to the present day. The produce changes from year to year. So do the growers and the customers, but the same vitality remains.

Ten years ago we launched the market blog. It is now a record of where we have been and where we are going. We're in our 21st year of the market itself during 2016. That's a huge accomplishment! The terrific music is ongoing. The food continues to please and delight. Young people can count on free books. And special events are scheduled throughout the summer. That includes free chile roastings, a potluck, a heritage chile festival, and much more.

Don't forget to follow the Española Farmers Market on this blog, YouTube, and Twitter. And make a visit to the market part of your warm weather routine. Scroll down on this blog for other special articles and news about special events.

Love song for the Española Farmers Market in 2016!

This blog in its tenth year of publishing is a love song for the Española Farmers Market. The market has grown over the past twenty seasons and now the market is one of the highlights of Northern New Mexico. Welcome to our 21st season! Visit our YouTube and Twitter social media platforms.

As produce is gathered and brought to the market each week, we are nourishing our families with fresh food, just like our grandparents and the great grandparents did over the 20th century and before.

There's a deep and longing need to continue these traditions. Millions of people across America are enjoying the fruits of the soil and sharing these treasures in famers' markets. We have a special history at our market. You can see it in the photos going back to 2007. Oh, how proud we were during the move to our own location. Go to the right of this posting and scan the links to the past ten years. Wow. And if you're clueless about how to prepare certain dishes, ask the vendor about the market's bilingual recipe cards. Here's an example for bell peppers.

On Mondays, there's a ritual in Española. People set aside time to visit the market. The market is a sign of a quality of life we've grown used to. And we're taking advantage of every opportunity to kick up our heels this growing season. The market is open ten to five every Monday at 1005 North Railroad Avenue. We spread the word through this blog and Twitter.

This season we are offering Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) for SNAP customers. Each time you swipe your SNAP card, you will get an equal amount of bonus DUFB for purchasing fruits and vegetables.

Tenth year for the blog honoring the Española Farmers Market!

That's right. We're celebrating our accomplishments this coming summer --2016. We had a great season in 2015 when we celebrated the 20th year of the Española Farmers Market. This year we have another observance. It's the tenth year for the market blog.

This means we can go back ten years into time and revisit the people and the events of that year. When we look back to the first year of the blog in 2007, we were excited about our new location not far from Northern New Mexico College at 1005 North Railroad Avenue near the corner of Fairview. Spread the word. We accept WIC, Senior WIC, SNAP (EBT) and Debit.

When it comes to fresh produce, you can count on the Española Farmers Market where you can find fresh onions, peas, quelites, chile, horno-roasted chicos, fresh chard, salad greens, berries, grass-fed lamb and other treats.

Our YouTube channel was one of the innovations during 2015. Take a look and you'll see the many people who lined up to buy, listen to the great live music, and sell their produce grown locally. Check us out at the YouTube channel. 

The 2016 Market season has opened for the year!

The Española Farmers Market opened on June 6, 2016 for its current season and will continue hosting Monday Markets, 10 am-5 pm during every Monday through October 31, 2016 at 1005 North Railroad Avenue. 

Come meet old friends, visit with farmers, sample freshly-picked fruits and vegetables and help us launch our twenty-first market season. Don Bernardo y los Ultimos will be serenading us at midday. You will find fresh onions, peas, quelites, chile, horno-roasted chicos, fresh chard, salad greens, berries, grass-fed lamb and other treats. 

We accept WIC, Senior WIC, EBT (SNAP) and Debit as well as cash money. This season we will again be offering Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) for SNAP customers. Each time you swipe your SNAP card, you will get an equal amount of bonus DUFB for purchasing fruits and vegetables.

Children will be able to select a book from our free Kids’ Book Exchange. The 2014 and 2015 Market postcard will be available and you will also be able to find free bilingual recipe cards at the Market stalls, giving ideas for how to prepare some of the tasty produce. We will have various foods cooking in the horno during periodic Market days; you can stroll in our Wildflower Garden or wander behind the plaza to see what is growing in the Community Fields. 

On July 15, the Market will expand to a twice-weekly market, thus adding our Friday Afternoon Market, 2-7pm through Friday September 16^th. Join your neighbors and friends at the Española Farmers Market. Every Market is a special day!

For information: Sabra Moore @ (505) 685-4842  www.espanolafarmersmarket.blogspot.com