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The Benefits of Buying Local Products Locally

March 17, 2016 By marketeditor

By Julia Howard

Murray Hollow Bread

Murray Hollow Bread

Feathered Antler

Feathered Antler

Custom created bags, shoes, hats, jewelry, baby accessories and wall art.

Mariaville Mushroom Men

Mariaville Mushroom Men

Variety of exotic mushrooms, including shiitake, oyster, lions mane, pioppino; mushroom teas.

Gomez Veggie Ville

Gomez Veggie Ville

Pesticide-free cherry tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, kale and more.

Lorna
Euro Delicacies

Euro Delicacies

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is a social venue. Regular shoppers to the market know and love its festive atmosphere. They run into friends and exchange thoughts and ideas with local farmers and other food producers. What they might not know is the economic impact of such actions.

“In Saratoga, we have so many unique locally owned businesses that you’d be hard pressed to find an item that you can’t buy locally,” said Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce. In other words, money spent locally means that more money circulates in the local economy.

“Our local family owned businesses really are the lifeblood of our communities,” Shimkus said. “If we want them to be able to contribute to the many great causes we all support than we should think of them and buy from them first.”

“In buying locally, we should be purchasing locally made products,” added Alan Brown, owner of Lewis-Waite Farm in Greenwich, NY, which sells its farm-raised meats year-round at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.

Many Saratoga residents might think of farming as a seasonal activity. Farmers in the Capitol region and throughout Upstate New York, however, are turning their farms into year-round ventures. They use high tunnels, greenhouses, and hydroponic methods to produce fresh vegetables through the winter. Farms that raise beef cattle, sheep, chickens, and other livestock care for their animals year-round.

By visiting the farmers market throughout the year, local residents are giving local farmers the financial support to operate all year.

Shopping locally is also better for the environment because it shortens the distance that food travels from its origin to your dinner table. Transport costs, fuel use, preservations, and packaging also are reduced significantly when more food is produced, sold, and bought locally. In addition, buying from a local producer eliminates costs of intermediary purchases and shipping, giving consumers more value for the dollar.

Plus, the quality of locally made and produced foods is undeniable. Produce is fresher and lasts longer, meat is more flavorful, and food becomes not only something to savor for its taste but also an experience that connects you to the land. Local, handmade goods are inspired by their environment and crafted carefully with a mindfulness to who will purchase it.

The unique nature of Saratoga Springs is due in part to local businesses and locally produced items. As Maddy Zanetti of Impressions of Saratoga put it, “The store you shop from pays taxes, donates to the community, helps with events, is involved in the city’s politics, who knows the many ways they affect the area. Without all of the small local people and products our downtown would not be what it is. And without our downtown, Saratoga Springs would not be what it is.” People are drawn to Saratoga for these reasons and come to experience the diversity and the difference that Saratoga is known for.

Filed Under: Featured Article, News Tagged With: Saratoga Farmers' Market

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Swing by our 3-6pm market tomorrow outside the low Swing by our 3-6pm market tomorrow outside the lower city center parking lot! We have several guests including musician @starlitgeneration, as well as some fun kids activities hosted by our friends from @saratogaspringslibrary. Hope to see you there!!!

Parking available in the City Center Lot, free for the first hour and $1/hr after that. 

#saratogasprings #saratogafarmersmarket #shoplocal #farmtotable #eathealthy #upstateny
Come stop by the Saratoga Farmers’ Market tomor Come stop by the Saratoga Farmers’ Market  tomorrow at the Wilton mall! From 9am-1pm you can find some of your favorite produce and craft vendors before we move over to High Rock Park on June 1st. Talented musician Brendan Dailey will be joining us too. Hope to see you there!

Photo 1 taken by Pattie Garrett @mysaratogakitchentable of one of our friends from @themushroomshopllc 

#saratogasprings #farmtotable #shoplocal #smallbuisness #eathealthy
After a much anticipated wait, come June 1st, the After a much anticipated wait, come June 1st, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market will be returning to High Rock Park for our Wednesday and Saturday Markets! Thank you to everyone on our team, our vendors, customers and friends who have helped to make this transition happen. Stay tuned for upcoming events celebrating our move! 

Photo: Flowers from @lovinmamafarm 

Parking will be available on High Rock Ave and in the new City Center Parking Garage (free for the first hour and $1/hr after that) 

#saratogasprings #farmersmarket #farmtotable #shoplocal #june1st #highrockpark
It is our second to last market on High Rock Ave b It is our second to last market on High Rock Ave before heading back over to the pavilion on June 1st!!! Stop by tomorrow from 3-6pm for our musical guest Dave Moore and our friends from @bsneny 

Photos by Pattie Garrett @mysaratogakitchentable 

#farmtotable #saratogafarmersmarket #shoplocal #healthyfood #smallbuisness

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