It’s a tradition more than a century old, and it’s something that’s good for everyone involved.

The Lehighton Downtown Farmers Market, Winter Edition, brings local farmers and artisans to the Lehighton Recreation Center on South Eighth Street to sell their locally made and produced products.

It also gives shoppers the chance to buy locally, support area businesses, and to cook with foods that are usually better quality and healthier.

“This is the third year for the winter farmers market,” according to Bambi Elsasser, head of the Lehighton Downtown Partnership. “The summer version, in the downtown park, we have going for six years.”

The number of vendors changes each time, sometimes up to 15 vendors, sometimes fewer.

The winter weather provides its own challenges for an outdoor market. It was a cool 4 degrees on Saturday morning.

Vendors had to keep some of the meats and vegetables in coolers to maintain the temperatures, or they could freeze more than they should.

The message most of the vendors had was the same: Buy local and support the area businesses.

Some of the vendors observed that as more shortages hit the area grocery stores, they see an increase in their sales. Ansel Bachman of Patriot Farms in Lenhartsville described how when grocery stores were facing empty shelves last year, his sales went up at the farmers markets.

“As grocery stores started to reopen again, the sales went down a bit,” Bachman said. “But as more shortages continue to happen at the stores, there will be more demand for us.”

Patriot Farms was selling a variety of meats like pork, bacon, ham and sausage plus some vegetables like Swiss chard, fennel and microgreens.

The pandemic has also made some businesses and groups rethink how they sell things. Girl Scout Troop 329 of Lehighton, for instance, had a table selling Girl Scout Cookies.

“Last year we didn’t get to do any sales like this,” said co-leader Amanda Tertel. “This year they are allowing us to sell, but we have to be masked up, have hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes, the whole nine yards. The girls have to limit customers touching the cookies.”

Other vendors included BAD Farms from Kempton, selling pasteurized and raw milk, yogurts, cheese products, eggs and smoothies.

Shocharie Ridge Apiary was selling a variety of honey products.

Debbie’s Pie in the Sky of Albrightsville had an assortment of baked goods plus savory items like meat loaf, macaroni & cheese, and Mexican Chicken Soup.

Liberty Acres Farm of Bangor had pork, chicken, duck and turkey products, including treats for pets.

Storms End Homestead had a table selling herbal products, elderberry syrup, upcycling and recycling fabrics and materials to create their own line of gift items.

The Lehighton Downtown Farmers Market is open the second and fourth Saturday of each month from October through April.

In May, the farmers market will return to the lower park across from the Municipal Building. Anyone interested in setting up tables or stands can contact Bambi Elsasser at 610-509-6465 or email bambie@carboncountychamber.org.