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Every fall just after Thanksgiving, the Ashland and Medford growers’ markets shut down, signaling the long, cold months that follow. But this year residents still will have access to locally grown produce during the offseason, thanks to the new Winter Market at Fry Family Farm. The market is open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays through Feb. 28, at 2184 Ross Lane, Medford. “We’ve had a lot of interest in a winter market from customers and patrons,” says Daria Land, executive director of the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market. “There’s been demand for the last couple of years.” Land notes that the Winter Market also gives the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market an opportunity for more special events, such as a cider press festival, roasted pepper feast and straw sleigh rides. Vendors considered a Saturday winter market, but finding a location was a problem until Fry Family Farm stepped up to host on Thursdays. With plenty of parking and both indoor and outdoor spaces for vendors, it is a boon for shoppers, growers and the host. “I like the market because the sense of community,” says Jennifer Gibbs of Ashland. “I fully believe in supporting the local markets.” So far, 20 vendors — including Terra Sol Organics, Wandering Fields, By George Farm, Griffin Creek Coffee, Nettle Man, and more — are signed up for the Winter Market. “There are a lot of people supporting local foods but don’t have a way to buy it as easily as during the summer months,” says Christi Reilly with TerraSol Organics, a 26-acre farm in Williams. TerraSol grows microgreens year-round for its wholesale clients, Reilly says, so extending their products to the winter retail market made sense. TerraSol is organizing a cooperative with four other local farms to vary the fresh, local produce on offer through the winter. “Carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, winter squash, microgreens — pea and sunflower shoots — and as many leaf crops as the winter allows,” Reilly says. “So if it snows and freezes all the time, we won’t have leafy crops, but as available, we’ll bring spinach, kale, chard, lettuces.” Ben Yohai handles market sales for Wandering Fields, an organic farm in the Applegate. Because Wandering Fields staffs the Saturday market in Grants Pass, it will send fresh produce to the Medford Winter Market with TerraSol. “We’re sending parsnips, leeks, celeriac, shallots, garlic and squash,” says Yohai. For By George Farm, the Medford Winter Market is a no-brainer as the cows give milk twice a day, seven days a week, and cheese making doesn’t stop during the cold weather. The Fry Family Farm store opened in August 2016 as a retail outlet for Suzi and Steve Fry’s farms in Ashland, Talent and Medford. It also serves as an organic-food hub, processes food and provides refrigerated and warehouse storage and cross docking for small farmers. The commercial kitchen preserves and ferments many of the Fry Family Farm products, so pickles, jellies, hot sauces, take-home dinners and baked goods are available for purchase. Local honey, eggs, meat, wine and beer are also for sale at Fry Family Farm, as are Le Mera organic flowers, plant starters and seasonal produce. The market is closed Christmas week. Tokens will not be offered at the Winter Market, and credit cards will be accepted by vendors who provide that service. Dogs are not permitted at the market for health reasons, though service animals are allowed. For more information on the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market, and the new Winter Market, visit www.RVGrowersMarket.com or call 541-261-5045. For more information about the Fry Family Farm, visit www.FryFamilyFarm.org or call 541-622-8154. The Fry Family Farm Store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Reach Ashland freelance writer Maureen Flanagan Battistella at [email protected] .