Salt Lake City (November 6, 2013) –In a collaborative effort between city and state leaders and the Downtown Alliance, a winter farmers market will return to downtown Salt Lake on November 8th at the Rio Grande Depot with more than 60 local vendors. Local produce will be available from almost two dozen area farms, a 25% increase from last winter’s successful inaugural Winter Market. Shoppers can expect increased variety and supply of produce at the market, thanks in part to several thousands of dollars in micro-grants to growers provided by the Downtown Farmers Market.

 

Also available is a wide array of other local products, including meats, honey, jam, salsa, spreads, and more. This diverse range of products includes four bakeries, four cheese companies and four local natural meat vendors featuring beef, lamb, pork and eggs.

 

“We’re thrilled to be back, and better than ever,” said Alison Einerson, Winter Market Manager. “We’ll have an even wider variety of goods this year, and several new vendors joining us. It’s going to be a great mix. We are very thankful to our friends at the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts for inviting us back to share their space and help us increase access to fresh local produce.”

 

Many of the products available are unique to the Winter Market; the same is true for non-food products as well. This winter, an art and craft element will be added to the Winter Market experience during December. Hosting a Winter Market at the Rio Grande Depot also offers an opportunity to provide additional exposure for the programs and resources found at the Rio Grande Depot, which are overseen by the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts. These include the Rio Gallery and The Utah Division of State History.

 

The Winter Market is also a pre-cursor to a daily year-round public market, slated to be constructed in the Rio Grande neighborhood in the years to come. The long range plan aims to redevelop and revitalize the Rio Grande neighborhood and strengthen Utah’s economy to help support Utah ranchers, farmers and other small businesses by leveraging the success of the 23 year-old Downtown Farmers Market.

 

The Market injects new energy into the Rio Grande neighborhood through increased foot traffic and positive use, benefitting small businesses such as the Rio Grande Café and the others in the area.