BIDDEFORD — When spring and summer rolls around, many people enjoy buying their food from farm stands along country roads and the farmers markets that bring a number of local products together in a central location. But as winter approaches, those markets close shop and finding local food can be difficult.

In recent years, a number of winter markets have sprung up around the state with several in southern Maine, such as York, Falmouth and Portland.

This Saturday, the Biddeford will join the movement with its first winter Farmers Market, held in one of the old WestPoint Home mill buildings. The space at 100 Mill St., at the intersection of Main and Alfred streets, is being donated by the building’s owner, mill developer Doug Sanford.

For a number of years, Sanford has discussed holding a farmers market in the mill district. But with the many projects he’s juggling, he never had the time to organize such a big undertaking.

Enter Deanna Weaver. Weaver, the proprietor of The Sweet Specialist, sells gourmet cookies and tarts from her small shop, hidden away in Sanford’s North Dam Mill.

For Weaver, the summer farmers markets in which she participates, and the visibility they provide, are essential to keep her business afloat, she said.

She hopes putting her products on display at the Biddeford Winter Farmers Market will help her business grow during the off season.

“I did this because I need something every weekend,” said Weaver. “I’m tired of waiting for everybody else.”

That said, although Weaver has taken the lead, “This is a real community effort,” she said.

Sanford will contribute the space, the downtown revitalization organization the Heart of Biddeford is helping out with promotion, and even the youth at the Community Bicycle Center are involved by making publicity banners that will advertise the market.

The Biddeford Farmers Market will be housed in an old mill building that at one time was the outlet store for WestPoint’s famous Vellux blankets and other products.

The Vellux blankets are long gone, but other local products will take their place. Instead of textiles, the 4,000 square foot space will be lined with tables loaded with local products such as jam, tea, alpaca wool, baked goods, meat, dairy and more. In all, 14 vendors have signed up to participate.

Although Weaver started her effort too late to find farmers with locally grown produce to participate, she said she hopes if the market takes place next year, vegetables and other produce will be added to the list of offerings.

“I think a winter farmers market is a great thing,” said Roy Guzman, owner of Guzman’s Salsa in Scarborough. He plans to sell salsas, dry rubs, mustards and home-baked stuffed breads on Saturday.

Since starting his company in 1998, Guzman has marketed his products at fairs, festivals and summer farmers markets. This will be his first venture selling at a winter market, but he has high expectations. Guzman noted that the winter farmers market in Portland does well and hopes the market in Biddeford will also be popular.

Ed Wright, owner of Wright’s Haven Farm in Limington, is more cautiously optimistic. He said he participates in multiple summer markets and also participates at winter markets in York and Falmouth. In his experience, he said, the winter markets are less popular than summer markets. However,  he said, “It’s a great opportunity for Biddeford.”

David Gilley, who with his wife Lisa owns Chef Gilley in Arundel, thinks people will jump on the idea of buying local products year round.

The former Disney World chef has had his company for only one year. He produces ketchup, relishes and an Asian barbecue sauce.

People are “getting sick of the big guys,” said Gilley, and more and more they prefer buying locally.

Marcia Macdonald, who owns Long Plains Alpacas in Buxton, and will be selling alpaca wool products on Saturday. She agrees that there is a movement afoot of people who want to buy locally.

“The more opportunity people have to buy local products, the better it is for all of us,” said Macdonald. It’s better for the economy and for the environment, she said.

The Biddeford Farmers market will be held at 100 Mill Street, at the intersection of Main and Alfred streets, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturdays from Feb. 12 through April 23.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.