With grocery-store shelves empty and growing distrust in a food system dependent upon multiple hands and machines touching the ingredients on our plates, people are increasingly turning to local food. It’s a reassuring silver lining to the dark cloud of a worldwide pandemic. And Westport Farmers’ Market (WFM) is leading the way in bringing that local food to the Connecticut community.

Not only has WFM started the state’s first no-contact digital farmers’ market for safe pickup and delivery of local food (link below), it has recently launched a “Who grows your food” campaign to introduce Connecticut shoppers to the farmers themselves.

“Local farmers and food producers are the people consumers trust in a crises like this,” said Lori Cochran Dougall, executive director of Westport Farmers’ Market. “We hear horror stories about unsanitary conditions in big grocery chains – people coughing, refusing to maintain a safe distance, touching multiple items, and more. Local consumers are hungry for an alternative.”

The “Who grows your food” campaign literally introduces that alternative. Through it WFM will highlight farmers, their families, and their growing practices to instill more confidence in the food we put on our plates.

 “It’s more important than ever that people eat well to build and maintain their immune systems during this pandemic and beyond so that it doesn’t return,” added Cochran-Dougall. “We know it will help consumers and farmers to turn more regularly to local food if they know the person or family behind the meat, vegetables, bread, cheese, milk, and prepared food on their plate. It’s the least we can do to help both our farmers and Connecticut consumers.”

About the Westport Farmers’ Market

The Westport Farmers’ Market is committed to providing fresh, local, healthy and seasonal food. It aspires to create a fun, safe, and healthy community environment for education and socialization. Its mission is to increase awareness, knowledge, and support for local producers focused on sustainable and healthy growing practices.

For more information about the Who Grows Your Food campaign, visit https://www.westportfarmersmarket.com, or email [email protected]. For information about the new online pilot farmers’ market and delivery system, visit https://www.westportfarmersmarket.com/order/.

The Westport Farmers’ Market receives philanthropic support from: Aitoro, Boxcar Cantina; Cohen and Wolf; Club Pilates Westport; CTBites; Doc’s Maple; Earth Animal; Eileen Fisher; Farah’s Farm; Fleishers; Fresh Direct; Gault; Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center; Jesup Hall; Neat Capital; Newman’s Own Foundation; Saugatuck Rowing Club; Sugar & Olives; Westport Sunrise Rotary; Terrain; Wave Hill Breads; and Wells Hill Farm.

 Find WFM on FB, Instagram, and Twitter, too.