The big top is back as Branford Alps Farmers Market (BAFM) officially opens for a second year on Thursday June 23.

Market Manager and non-profit BAFM founder Martha Maguire is excited and delighted to be back for a second season offering locally raised products to all, with an eye toward encouraging those who need food assistance to enjoy the exceptional experience of selecting fresh, nutritious food offered by those who’ve cultivated and cared for it.

Part of the mission of BAFM is to make its weekly products available to consumers who shop for their food using assistance programs such as SNAP.

“The food is healthier and tastier and lasts longer; and while it may be a bit more expensive, Branford Alps Farmers Market also doubles SNAP dollars up to $20; so that’s $40 a week for fruits and vegetables at the market and then they can come back next week and buy more,” said Maguire.

Maguire and her BAFM board co-members Darlene Zimmermann and Maguire’s husband, Walter Maguire, have been working to notify as many local agencies as possible. All BAFM vendors accept BAFM coins as cash (exchange cash for coins by swiping bank debit cards or SNAP debit cards on site) and some are set up to take cash as well as complete card purchases at their booths, said Maguire.

BAFM also supplied coins to local food service agencies – for example, $500 in coins weekly to Branford Food Pantry – to help bring the fresh produce and other offerings to the food assistance table. Beyond the exceptional effort to bring in all members of the community to enjoy the benefits what BAFM vendors have to offer, the other part of BAFM’s mission is to help promote locally grown and produced items. The final ingredient is bringing everyone together under the big tent to enjoy the incredible sense of community shared by shoppers and vendors alike. Picnic tables invite shoppers to sit down for a tasty meal from visiting farm friendly food trucks.

On opening night, grab a grilled cheese from The Caseus Cheese Truck, enjoy live music performed by Frank Panzarella and browse booths for local goods from Pine Lake Mushrooms, Savvy Tea Gourmet, Connecticut Gourmet, PopCentric Gourmet Ice Pops, Northfordy Farm, Medlyn’s Farm, Late Bloomer Farm LLC, Truelove Farms, Mama Del’s Pasta, Moon Rocks Gourmet Cookies, Fresh by Jeri, High-water Dairy, Newtons Cut Flowers, Oronoque Farms Gift & Bakery, The Spice & Tea Exchange of Guilford, International Artisan Baking Co. and Wave Hill Breads.

Rotating in some weekly visiting vendors (on opening night, Aiyana Essentials LLC of Guilford shares natural skin care products) and local organizations among the seasonal vendors will keep the market exciting and fresh. This year’s crop of seasonal vendors will offer more food sampling than ever; and new additions are bringing fresh mushrooms, more fruits and even bisques and chowders. BAFM seasonal vendors also offer fine farm-raised meats, cheeses, eggs, dairy, vegetables and much more, from baked goods and breads to locally grown flowers and herbs.

“Farm-raised meats were a big draw last year, and I think people were surprised to find it,” said Maguire. “The challenge for us is that people may have a fixed picture of what a farmer’s market is – something you’d only find on a weekend, with only fruits and vegetables, and only during summer vacation months. Our big challenge is to get people to realize the amazing variety we offer on Thursdays every week through harvest season, and to get them to keep coming. “

Connecticut vineyards and breweries are also welcome at the market this year (check out Branford Alps Farmers Market on Facebook to find out about any scheduled tasting events). Families are encouraged to bring the kids to experience BAFM and get their hands on some free craft projects, too.

“The Guilford Art Center [GAC] is partnering with us to provide creative craft projects for kids at the market this summer,” said Maguire. “This is an opportunity for some of their high school students to explore arts education and for our families to have an enriched experience at the market.”

The projects are free, thanks in part to funding given to GAC from The Guilford Foundation.

“It’s really a win-win because it’s an opportunity to showcase them in Branford while also giving their students hands-on teaching experience with the families and kids that come to the market,” said Maguire. “It’s free for the children because my philosophy is it has to be really fund for kids to go to a farmers market; to eat healthy foods, taste new foods have a good experience around the habits of healthy shopping and eating. Those are the kinds of seeds that we need to plant. Hopefully, we’ll change the way people think about eating and who they’re supporting, to help keep farms in our community and keep these farms alive.”

BAMF’s big top is located at the base of a residential area fronted by commerce along Route 1, on a formerly empty parking lot at 17 Alps Road (just behind TD Bank on West Main Stree). Beginning June 23, BAMF will be open Thursdays 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. through harvest season in the fall.

“At the end of last season, we put up a split rail fences and islands for planting, so we’re gradually beautifying the site,” said Maguire. “I think every urban planner study I’ve seen shows that enlivening an area like this commercial district in Branford has got to have ripple effects, So for that area of Route One and for the Alps Road community, it becomes a community market place.”