New London — Those who wish to buy fresh local produce and handmade items won't have to wait for summer to visit a farmers market.

A spring indoor farmers market is slated to open April 9, offering fresh greens, vegetable seedlings, flowering plants, local eggs, baked goods and many other products, more than two months before the regular market season begins.

The market will be open from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at St. James Episcopal Church on Federal Street through the end of June, when it will move to its outdoor locations.

This summer, the market will operate at its two previous New London locations — at the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital parking lot on Montauk Avenue on Wednesdays and at Williams Park at the corner of Broad and Williams Streets on Fridays — as well as at a new location on Tuesdays at Washington Park in Groton.

All three markets will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Ledge Light Health District and Thames Valley Sustainable Connections will run the New London markets, while Ledge Light runs the Groton market.

Cindy Barry, Ledge Light's farm market promotion program coordinator, said the indoor market is being started in response to customers’ requests.

“People kept asking for it,” she said. “People are interested in buying local, and they want to support local farms. And more and more farmers are growing in greenhouses, so they’re able to provide fresh vegetables early in the growing season.”

Thus far, 12 farms and prepared food and craft vendors have signed up to sell products at the indoor market.

At noon on Thursday, the farmers and vendors will meet at Ledge Light Health District offices in New London to kick off the new season, review public health regulations and learn about coupon and voucher programs.

Additional vendors for the indoor market and for all three summer markets are being sought, Barry added.

In addition to starting the new markets this year, Ledge Light also has formed a regional organization to help promote farmers markets throughout New London County.

The Southeastern Connecticut Farmers Market Association, which had its first meeting in December, now has 13 members representing different markets.

The organization was started with the help of a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We’d like to leverage our resources to do some joint marketing and advertising,” Barry said.

Vendors interested in selling at one of the markets, attending the meeting Thursday or joining the association should call Barry at (860) 448-4882, ext. 302.

j.benson@theday.com