NORWICH – Despite the recent cold snap that brought frost to parts of the region Monday night, plans to get the Chenango County Farmers Market underway for another season have not been detered as Farmers Market coordinators make final preparations for opening day in just a few weeks.

The Chenango Farmers Market takes to the grounds of East Park beginning June 8 and will continue to do so every Wednesday and Saturday throughout the summer. While this year’s market brings the traditional homegrown food and locally made products back to the table, plans are to introduce new offerings this year and continue some of the same successful programs first introduced to the market last season.

“We have about 25 to 30 vendors with five new vendors, four of which are produce growers and one new culinary vendor, Buttercup Culinary, whose focus is all types of specialty baked good,” said Ken Walbrecht, president.

One primary focus this year, Walbrecht added, is to heighten awareness of “buy local campaigns,” including Farm Fresh and Eat and Support Local. The Farmers Market is also touting acceptance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT cards, which were made available at the market for the first time in 2012 through grant funds awarded to the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County. The EBT machine will be made available again this year, thanks to state funding and help from local volunteers.