Farmers Markets are a staple for Missoulians from spring through the fall, but shoppers used to have to do without the benefits of such markets in the cold of winter.

Starting in early November, Franco Salazar and a group of local entrepreneurs have begun the Missoula Winter Public Market each Saturday from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. in the old UBC location at 800 South Third Street West.

"In the summer, I work for the Clark Fork Market, but it just seemed natural to keep the season going into the winter," Salazar said. "We got really lucky, in that we have a great location in the middle of town. The old UBC Building is now called 'The Hive', and we're going to run the Winter Market every Saturday from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. through December, then starting January 10th, we're going to go every other week."

Eric Winegart is also a participant in the Winter Market, where he sells grain-fed beef from his farm near Florence.

"I'm selling the 100 percent grass-fed beef," Winegart said. "We've been vendors at various markets for the past five or six years. We also bring in some fruits and vegetables, baked goods and fresh eggs, so that's how we participate in the market."

Other items available at the market include barn wood gifts for Christmas, there are plant growers, mushroom vendors, Lifeline Dairy is there with cheeses, and, of course, there's lots of hot coffee on cold winter mornings.

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