The Dorchester Winter Farmers’ Market is ending their season on Friday, March 27. The market, now in its fourth year, is the first project of the Dorchester Community Food Co-op. Based in the Great Hall at at 6 Norfolk St. in Codman Square, the market took place every Friday from 3-7 p.m. over 12 weeks this winter.

Silverbrook Farm, Oakdale Farm, The Neighborhood Farm and ReVision Urban Farm supply produce to the market. Ancient Bakers, as well as the Indonesian-inspired Big A Farm, provide pre-made food and meals. Red’s Best Local Seafood also calls the market home, as well as Foxboro Cheese, which brings both local cheese and meats to the table. Lastly, Lyndigo Spice produces spices and chutneys. Many of the vendors have been with the market since its first season, and nearly all of them work in summer markets around Dorchester.

The market was cancelled three times due to snow this winter. Co-Op Program Manager Jenny Silverman was impressed by the vendors’ availability and the customers’ support during the many snowy Fridays the Winter Farmer’s Market managed to stay open.

“Weather really, really impacted the market this year. We are only open for 12 weeks out of the year, so those three days closed were actually 25 percent of the market’s hours,” Silverman said.

The Winter Farmers’ Market is a lively place, home to not only food, but also kids’ activities, events and special guests. Past events in included a 2013 visit from the late Mayor Tom Menino and face painting with Dot Art. The market also has weekly features, such as last week’s Adey’s Ethiopian Food. This week, the market will be hosting a cooking demo designed for the elders of Dorchester 3-5 p.m.

The Dorchester Community Food Co-op was founded to create a community-owned cooperative market that brings healthy, affordable food to the Dorchester area. The Co-op provides healthy eating education and cultural activities, as well as a center for sustainable living in Dorchester. The organization has over 1,000 people signed up for weekly email notifications about their various programs.

The Dot Co-op started the winter market as an immediate way to bring fresh, affordable food to the community. However, there is no summer market, as the Co-op is dreaming much bigger.

“I think farmer’s markets are an important piece of the food picture,” said Silverman. “But we are very excited to begin the process of building a new store in the Four Corners neighborhood.”

The complex, slated for opening in 2017, will contain a healthy café and bookstore, a juice bar, modular event space, an open-plan “mercado” stocked with local entrepreneurs, healing and wellness spaces and 6,000 square feet for the Dorchester Community Food Co-op.

A meeting is planned for Wed., April 15 at 7 p.m. at the Erie-Ellington Community Center to discuss the latest plans and receive input about the Co-op store.

“We are very excited to take this next step in making the co-op grow, and bringing fresh, affordable food to the community of Dorchester,” Jenny Silverman said.

The Dorchester Community Food Co-op accepts SNAP benefits, and offers up to $10 in free food to EBT recipients. Anyone can shop at the market; however, co-op members do receive discounted coupons. Nearly 400 households are members of the co-op, which requires a one-time $100 fee that can be paid in installments.