Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the location of a farmers market in Denver.

If there’s one thing most Coloradans can get behind, it’s a good farmer’s market. 

Nicole Jarman said that became clear early on in her now 19-year run organizing and managing them as she watched their popularity skyrocket. It is perhaps most evidenced by the event that helped stake her claim in the industry, the South Pearl Street Farmers Market in Denver, where she helped grow a market with 20 vendors into one with over 180. 

She was ready for this past year to be her company Jarman and Co. Events’ last organizing farmers markets, but a request from a friend is changing that. Her next project will be in downtown Breckenridge, and it’s mostly thanks to a James Beard award-winning chef who wanted the community around him to have more access to fresh produce. 

Palisade peaches, wagyu beef and farm-grown herbs are just some of the items that will be found at the new Breckenridge Farmers Market in the Exchange Lot this summer. The weekly Thursday event will coincide with Breck Create’s Airstage Concert Series, which kicks off June 19.

Jarman said if it weren’t for Summit County-native chef Matt Vawter’s persistence, there likely wouldn’t be a food-centric farmers market coming to Breckenridge.

They first met around six years ago through a Jarman-created event, the Steamboat Food and Wine Festival. Vawter said he’s watched Jarman turn her creations, like the touted Telluride Reserves culinary event, into immediate successes. And if there was someone who was going to help bring his idea for a more produce-focused farmers market to Breckenridge, it was her. 

Jarman said it actually took her a couple years to get on board. 

Community and farmers’ commitment largely fueled Jarman’s original hesitation. Convincing farmers that participating in a market that is often hours away from where they’re based would be financially worth it was one feat. Getting enough community support to make it all work was another. 

“At first, I told him I’m not doing farmers markets anymore. There’s just a limited number of farmers in Colorado, it’s really hard and our growing season is tough,” she said. “But he is just so lovely and persuasive, and this year I said ‘Ok, let’s talk about what a farmer’s market could look like’.”

Vawter started working on getting the support of other Breckenridge restaurateurs, and soon the concept worked its way into conversations happening at Breckenridge Town Council, and members started looking for updates.

The town officially brought on Jarman and Co. Events, and Jarman started working on getting farmers on board. She now has 15 vendors committed, and is working on creating a system where a farmer from one region brings up products from others in that area, which could add to the list further.

She said a vendor she’s betting locals will be excited to see is a local himself, Sam Pines. His business, Pines’ Nut Butter, copped the Best of Summit award for best locally made product in 2023’s competition. She anticipated locals will also take well to products from veterinarian-founded dairy farm, Five Freedom Dairy, that makes products including a specialty dog yogurt.

“This initiative underscores Breckenridge’s commitment to sustainability and community well-being by providing direct access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables,” Breckenridge’s assistant director of recreation Jon Dorr said via email. “By supporting Colorado farmers and producers, the market not only bolsters the local economy but also ensures that residents and chefs have the freshest ingredients at their fingertips.”

The farmers market in the Exchange parking lot will be held on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and will run until from June 19 until Sept. 25. Dorr said this will not replace the Breckenridge Sunday Market, which starts June 8.

Updates on the market and applications to be a vendor can be found at TinyURL.com/ydb6khtc.