Last Resort

Bryanna was about to pay for her produce when the vendor who accepts WIC took a break, so Bryanna decided to wait in line for the bathroom with her son Micah. Bryanna finds the nutritional benefits offered by WIC confusing but uses a pamphlet to guide her. She enjoys the Broad Street Farmers Market, but prefers the Providence Winter Farmers Market closer to downtown. The winter market used to run year-round, but 2024 is the first year it operates only in the winter due to low summer attendance.

This is my second time coming here. I go to the one that is closer to behind the mall in downtown Providence. It's a bigger market. I know it's inside. I go to that one more frequently. They have more options. They have meats. They have eggs. There's even pastries. 

I live in the Warwick area. The West Warwick Farmers Market isn't that good either. It's small, just about the same as this one. I’m here instead of the Providence Winter Farmers Market today because of the timing. That one’s closed now. And also this one's closer. This one's really a last resort. 

But I enjoy it. The people are wonderful. Each stand has kind of similar items, but different in the people themselves. Even small talk, even you talking to me is just a nice conversation type of deal, compared to the one in downtown. There, it's just business, and then go about your way. This is a more community feel. 

With the WIC, last year was a little bit different. Last year, the last time I went, the WIC was an actual coupon type of thing. But this year, it's a QR code so it's easier than before. They could just scan it, and then onto the next. There's certain foods that we can buy with it. It's kind of weird, I don't really remember what I can’t buy. So I usually go to the people, and they actually tell me what I can and can’t buy. 

Me personally, I wouldn’t come here if they didn't accept WIC. The other one, I'll go to even if they didn’t accept WIC because it has more options. They have restaurants. They even had a Seven Stars Bakery stand. It’s the Providence Farmers Market. It's on 10 Sims Ave. I went last year. They've been there for a while. I don’t go every Saturday, but when I'm in the area, I go more often. They even have a food truck outside. The last time I went was… I got baby brain right now, so I don’t remember. Maybe a couple months ago. Maybe two months ago. Right before I popped (she gestures to her son).

His name is Micah. He's two months. I usually take him when I go grocery shopping. He's breastfed, so I kind of have to. He enjoys it. He enjoys the weather, and the ride, and being off-ground. He enjoys the feeling of it.