Capital City Farmers Market was established as an unincorporated agricultural cooperative in 1977, under the direction and management of a CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) worker, Leslie Sproule. At the time, Leslie was living on a communal farm started by one of the earliest commercial organic growers, Robert Houriet. With Robert, Don and Alice Hooper of Brookfield, Doug Guy of Calais, East Montpelier, Andy Carbonneau and Alan LePage of Barre, and occasional others, we opened in mid-June for 2.5 months on Langdon Street, which was closed off for the purpose.

After two years there, a building owner felt we were negatively impacting his business, and after some unfruitful negotiations, we procured the County Courthouse Parking Lot on Elm Street. Leslie Sproule continued to recruit and direct the market through 1979. At that point, the first meeting of membership was held, and a board of directors elected. Alan LePage was the first president. Doug Guy became the first paid manager. Richard Wiswall became president in 1984, and Marge Bower became a long term manager in 1986 until ’98. The market was incorporated and a comprehensive set of rules adopted.  Stanley Scribner became president in 1988. The market grew rapidly (at about 20%/year) through the late 80s and 90s to 35 vendors, and a gross of $250k. Cheese producer Don and Alice Hooper and  Laini Fondiller were the first to sell dairy at market. North Hollow Beef of Rochester was the first meat vendor. In 1990, Jeni Humphries of LePage Farm became president, and served until 2000. Les Snow became manager in 1998, and served until 2003.  

In 1989, a few vendors started a Thanksgiving Farmers Market in City Hall. This grew rapidly through the 90s, eventually becoming the largest market of the year. In 2000, Jim Merriam of Camp Merrishko Farm in Brookfield became president. In 2002, a new restriction on public parking in the adjacent federal lot behind the Post Office was enforced, The following year, the market moved to the Henry Lot, next to Christ Church. Randy George of Red Hen Baking became president until 2006, when he was succeeded by Boots Wardinski.

Jesse was manager from 2004 until 2010. She organized the first winter market in 2006 at the Vermont College gymnasium. Boots Wardinski’s administration was noted for an effort to move the market to the college green, for which there was a Rural Development grant to renovate the Vermont College Quad. The effort was ended by the opposition of Lila Bennett.  A separate governing body steered the Winter market through the first 3 years. Carolyn Grodinsky became manager in 2010, until 2016. Ashton Kirol was manager from ’16 through ’18. Since 2010, Presidents have been; Jaiel Pulskamp, ’10 to’12, Lila Bennett ’12 to ’14, Barbara Thompson ’14 to ’16, Karen Wiseman, ’16 to ’18; Hannah Blackmer ’18. In September 2018, the market was held for 3 weeks on a closed down State Street. the following year, it was held all season on the closed down State Street and the Heney Lot which had been been slated for the development of a parking garage. Most of the 2020 season was held in the Agriculture Dept parking lot on Taylor Street.