Every Saturday from November till May, thousands of people flock to the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket for the Winter time Farmers’ Market.  New last year, it is already a destination: “Meet me at the winter market” has become the default plan for so many that the market is really as much about community as it is about food shopping.

See for yourself. If your idea of a winter farmers’ market is bushels of parsnips and bagloads of rutabagas and not much else, prepare to be surprised. In addition to those winter staples, you’ll find fruits and vegetables full of flavor—kale, collards, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, winter squash, greens, apples, radishes, beets and more. Also, look for locally raised eggs, pork, chicken, beef and shellfish, plus applesauce and apple butter, artisan chocolate, bread and baked goods, cheese, cupcakes, ice cream, jams and jellies and locally roasted coffee.

The market almost didn’t come to Pawtucket at all. After a deal for a different venue in Providence fell through, market manager Farm Fresh Rhode Island (FFRI) rather cautiously defaulted to the open corridors of Hope Artiste Village. But there were worries. Was it too long and narrow? Would Providence residents cross the line into Pawtucket?

For FFRI and the farmers the response was a somewhat unexpected grand slam. The big initial crowds didn’t die off, either—they just kept coming. And they came from Providence—not to mention Westerly, Attleboro and Westport—even from Boston.

This year the market brings back many of the vendors who contributed to last winter’s success, including Aquidneck Farms, Purple Pear of Providence, Hopkins Farm and Matunuck Oyster Farm. Over 45 vendors in all are at the 2009–2010 market.

The best thing about the Winter time Farmers’ Market—aside from the remarkable bounty it offers shoppers—is the vibrant sense of shared contentment that permeates the big, long, airy hall. Shoppers and vendors communicate in a way that seems very new, yet old-fashioned. A way of providing that was almost lost has been restored, and we are all much richer for it.