Customers of the Carmel Farmers Market stand in line to buy items. The market is open most Saturdays with the exception of Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 from 9 a.m to noon. Photo by Christian Ledbetter

The Carmel Winter Farmers Market, which opened Oct. 16, will run every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, until March 26 with the exception of Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. The winter market is indoors at the Wire Factory located on 510 3rd Ave. SW and features locally produced products among other items.
According to Ron Carter, Carmel Farmers Market master, the winter market attracts around 40 vendors who bring a variety of products made in Indiana. He said the market has pastries, baked goods, vegetables, meats, drinks and plants, among other items.
He said, “The mission for the Carmel Farmers Market is the same for both (the) winter and summer (market) and that’s to bring the verbest and safe healthy nutritious food to the citizens of Carmel and the Northside communities.”
The Carmel Farmers Market has two seasonal markets. The winter market is indoors while the summer market is outside of the Palladium. Carter said the main difference between the two markets is the design and the items available.
“There are lots more vegetables and other produce at the summer market compared to the winter market. The winter market has more of a preponderance of prepared foods,” he said. “Plus the summer market is more colorful, because of the tents (and) the canopies that our vendors have.”
Senior MacKenna Mitchell said she works at the summer market, going there most Saturdays. She said she goes to the market to work for her family’s friend’s Walking Waffle Company stand, but also to see other people.
“I enjoy seeing our regulars when they come and seeing people I know. I love seeing the community come together especially after everyone has been so separated these past couple of years,” she said.
In addition, Mitchell said people looking forward to going to the market can find a variety of items.
“There are many food places for breakfast and coffee/other drinks and smoothies. There are also fresh fruits and veggies to take home. There are frozen meals (and) lots of other small businesses with food items to take home as well as eat there,” she said.
Senior Lila Simmons said the Carmel Farmers Market is somewhere she has always gone to.
“I like the Walking Waffle (and) My Dad’s Sweet Corn. We usually get that in the summer,” she said.
She said she has been to both markets and doesn’t prefer one over the other.
“There’s the ice skating rink in the middle (of the market) which is fun and there’s hot chocolate and a lot more winter things,” she said.
Carter said, “People who haven’t been to the winter market could look forward to the same things they look forward to at the summer market, just in an indoor setting,” he said.