For a full taste of the iconic fall season in Vermont, be sure to make a stop at the Retreat Farm Market in Brattleboro. Tucked inside the historic Retreat Farm campus, this gem of a market has quickly become one of southeastern Vermont’s best one-stop shops for local food, drink, and gifts, all gathered under one roof on Route 30 at the north end of Brattleboro’s vibrant downtown center.
Step inside and you’ll find thousands of products by more than 100 food producers, the majority of items from right here in Vermont and nearly all from within 150 miles.. It’s as much a curated tour of the region as a grocery store: Tavernier Chocolates of Brattleboro, Parish Hill Creamery’s award-winning cheeses from Westminster; and maple syrup from the Bunker Farm in Dummerston.
All share the space with local jams, honey, cider, and locally roasted coffee. Every producer featured is chosen with care, and the Market prioritizes carrying brands and farms that give back to their communities and treat the land well, so browsing here doubles as a way to get to know and give back to the best of the region.
The cheese case is the heart of the Market, and staff run tastings daily, walking visitors through New England’s best cheese wedges and wheels. This is a great way to find a new favorite before committing to a whole block. On many weekends, that same spirit of discovery expands into pop-up tastings featuring rotating producers, plus wine tastings hosted with Vermont Wine Merchants, so there’s often something new to sample no matter when you visit. The recently opened coffee bar adds fresh-brewed drinks.
The Market makes an easy stop on its own, and it’s also the perfect complement to exploring the rest of Retreat Farm. The campus is free and open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk, with nearly 10 miles of hiking trails, pastures with resident farm animals, and a forest playground for kids and the young at heart. Across the street, a popular local canoe and kayak put-in spot accesses a calm, shallow setback with the West and Connecticut Rivers just beyond.
Grab a snack, pick up a local beverage, and head out to Farmhouse Square — a fitting reward after an autumn hike, time on the water, or a simple stroll around the farm. Whether you’re filling a picnic basket, hunting for a gift to help you remember your time in Vermont, or just looking for an excuse to taste your way through local cheeses, the Retreat Farm Market is worth the stop. It’s open daily, easy to find, and makes for a perfect gateway to Vermont.
Find the Retreat Farm Market at 400 Linden Street, Brattleboro, VT. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Learn more at retreatfarm.org or call us at 802-490-2270 ext. 2. Check out events schedule at: https://www.retreatfarm.org/events
