White Plains Winter Mini-Market Brings Local Farmers And Fresh Goods Indoors

WHITE PLAINS, Md. — Along Crain Highway in White Plains, three local businesses — connected through seasons of friendship and collaboration at the La Plata Farmers Market — have teamed up to do something many seasonal markets cannot: stay open to local food, conversation and community through the winter.

Inside Raw Juice Market, farmers who normally pack up their tents after the fall season are still showing up on Saturdays, unloading crates of greens, bottles of milk and handmade products — and spending time doing what they value most: talking directly with the people who buy their food.

The Winter Wellness Mini-Market is a collaboration that brings Simpson’s Market Garden and The Farm at Thorne Gut inside the Raw Juice Market storefront, runs Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m. , from Dec. 13, 2025, through what they hope will be Jan. 31, 2026.

For the farmers involved, the market fills a gap left when outdoor farmers markets shut down for the season.

“Our animals don’t stop producing just because it’s winter,” said Erica, owner of The Farm at Thorne Gut. “This market lets us stay connected with our regular customers and gives people a chance to keep supporting local — even in the colder months.”

A Collaboration Born At La Plata Farmers Market

The partnership grew naturally from relationships built at the La Plata Farmers Market, where all three vendors regularly sell during the season. Conversations between market days eventually turned into an invitation to use the Raw Juice Market storefront as a winter gathering point.

“It’s so gratifying to see small businesses from our market grow, thrive and form supportive partnerships in the community, and to know that our market played a role in helping make that happen. This is a perfect example of how, together, we can promote and support our region’s agricultural heritage and independent small businesses — and how they, in turn, can support each other,” said Kelly Phipps, Farmers Market Manager for the Town of La Plata.

Rather than a full-scale market, the Saturday setup is intentionally informal — a few hours where customers can stop in, ask questions, learn how to use products and reconnect with familiar farmers.

“You can actually come talk, ask about how you use the things,” said Colton, owner of Simpson’s Market Garden, explaining that the Saturday hours give customers a chance to learn about seasonal produce, cooking ideas and nutritional benefits directly from the source.

After the market window ends, remaining items stay in the store and are available throughout the week.

Keeping Food Local, Even In Winter

Simpson’s Market Garden produces salad mixes and microgreens year-round, including lettuce, spinach and arugula, grown across two small farm sites in Charles County. Colton said microgreens are young plants grown for their nutrient density and are available throughout the winter months.

The Farm at Thorne Gut brings dairy products to the market, including raw cow milk sold in compliance with Maryland regulations, along with eggs and farm-made skincare products crafted with goat milk produced on the farm. The farm operates year-round, making winter access especially important.

“I have a dairy farm. I produce milk all year long,” Erica said, noting that the winter market allows regular customers to keep purchasing without long gaps.

Hosting The Market, Supporting Local

Raw Juice Market, a family-operated juice bar in White Plains, has grown into a community space where wellness, local food and connection come together.

Melissa said opening the storefront to local farmers during the winter felt like a natural extension of the relationships built over years at the La Plata Farmers Market. After starting their business in a converted juice bus, the Bakers opened their White Plains shop in 2025 with the goal of building a space for wellness and local connection.

“We really love being able to support local farmers and give them a place to stay connected with the community, even in the winter,” said Melissa Baker, co-owner of Raw Juice Market. “It’s about keeping everyone together and making sure local food is still accessible.”

Raw Juice Market also returns juice pulp and compost to local farms for reuse in livestock feed and growing operations — part of its commitment to sustainability and keeping resources local. Customers browsing during market hours might also run into Archie, the Bakers’ young son, whose enthusiastic handshake becomes a sweet way to welcome people into the space and offer a little extra help.

The Winter Wellness Mini-Market runs Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m., through Jan. 31, 2026 (weather permitting), at Raw Juice Market, 4455 Crain Highway, White Plains, MD.

For updates, vendor highlights and weather announcements, visit the event page on Facebook.

---