The Garden Market welcomes the Wallingford community.
By Rachel Fan ’27
The Wallingford Winter Garden Market, an initiative sponsored by the Coalition for a Better Wallingford and the HUBCAP Wallingford, is a new event for local vendors to sell seasonal produce and artisanal goods. It takes place every Saturday from December 2 to March 30 inside the HUBCAP Wallingford building on 128 Center Street. While the Wallingford Garden Market occurs annually over the summer, this is its first appearance in the winter season.
Sharing insights into the creation of the event, Mr. Jon Scagnelli, the organizer and supervisor of the Winter Garden Market, explained that the concept emerged as a natural extension of the community’s desire to support local vendors during the colder months. “It started as a way to provide a platform for local farmers and artisans to continue their trade beyond the traditional market season,” Mr. Scagnelli said.
Initially focused on boosting small businesses and local producers, the Winter Garden Market has now evolved into an essential part of Wallingford’s winter activities, attracting residents to shop and engage with the community.
Each week, the Winter Garden Market features up to 21 vendors carefully selected to offer a diverse range of products. These vendors include long-standing local businesses, such as home bakery Tasty Sprinkle, and newcomers, like this week’s addition Ideal Fish, a fish vendor selling fresh, quality fish raised in stress-free environments. From freshly baked sourdough bread to handcrafted pasta, the market is a showcase of culinary diversity and craftsmanship.
“Our aim is not just to provide a shopping venue, but to create a space where the community can learn about and engage with the people behind these local products,” Mr. Scagnelli said. The market also serves as an opportunity for new businesses to gain exposure. Mr. Scagnelli noted, “Participation in the market can be a significant step for new vendors to introduce themselves to the community.”
Despite the winter months limiting the availability of fresh produce, many vendors at the market have adapted by offering preserved items as alternatives to their usual offerings. One such vendor is Meadow Walk Farm. Known for selling farm goods during the summer, they have shifted their focus in the Winter Garden Market to a selection of homemade jams.
“Our faith in the market’s supervisor, who has excellently managed the summer events, inspired us to join the winter version,” Meadow Walk Farm’s vendor said. “We’ve seen his great work at the Farmers Market, so participating in this winter event was a natural decision for us.”
The Winter Garden Market also features a range of exclusive products that are hard to come across otherwise. Pinebrook Farm, for instance, is a family-run farm that offers a selection of American wagyu and quail eggs.
“As newcomers to the local market scene, we’ve recently begun engaging in community events like this one,” the farm’s owner said. “Our goal is to introduce our produce to more people, helping them discover that high-quality products like Wagyu beef are locally available and cultivated right here in Wallingford,” he continued.
Mr. Scagnelli hopes that the Wallingford Winter Market will become a longstanding tradition in the town. He sees potential for the market to evolve, extending access to certain seasonal goods year-round. Mr. Scagnelli also mentioned ongoing discussions with various stakeholders, including local merchants and the Wallingford Parks & Recreation Department, about broadening the scope of the market to feature seasonal themes throughout the year. “There’s a wealth of ideas on how we can grow and adapt the market to make it a year-round feature for Wallingford,” he said.
