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Cooking on a College Student’s Budget

August 29, 2017 By marketeditor

 

By Courtney Kramer

I spent the summer of 2017 as a Saratoga Farmers’ Market intern. Before that point, I had no experience whatsoever with farmers’ markets. However, I did have an innate passion for fresh meals with locally grown produce.

As a result, I came to the internship with a desire to learn how to cook better for myself and to use farmers’ markets as at least one of my sources for fresh, locally produced food.

But I knew very little about how farmers’ markets operated. I did have a lot of questions:

  • Would every stand sell fruits and vegetables?
  • Would each week bring different vendors?
  • How would non-cash transactions be handled?
  • What would happen if it rained?

I got some answers to these questions through my internship. But I also learned something more important. I learned how to cook, easily and quickly, and most importantly on the budget of a 20-year-old college student.

My grandmother is Italian. I lived seven doors away from her my entire life. I grew up with home-cooked Italian meals featuring fresh zucchini, tomatoes, and peppers along with spicy sausages and pasta.

On my own as a college student, I came to realize how much those fresh Italian dinners spoiled me. In college, I can eat in the college cafeteria or cook in my apartment. The latter option is more appealing, but time also matters: there’s school work, extracurriculars, and a social life. What could I do to cook quickly, easily and on a budget?

Broccoli from Humiston’s Vegetables, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

Working for the Saratoga Farmers’ Market gave me answers to those questions. I spoke with farmers, Cornell Cooperative Extension food experts, volunteers and customers who are experts on how to use fresh produce well. A few go-to ingredients that I’ll bring back to college with me:

  • Spinach (or any other cooking green): Whether you steam it or cream it as a side dish, put it on a sandwich, wilt it into pasta, it’s flavorful, colorful and nutritious.
  • Zucchini: These massive summer squashes are the most versatile veggies around. Use them as an appetizer, a side, an entrée, or dessert. They also pair well with tomatoes.
  • Broccoli: I can bake it, steam it, or saute it in minutes.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays through October at High Rock Park. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Filed Under: Featured Article, News Tagged With: Broccoli, Budget, College, Cooking, Internship, Recipes, Saratoga Farmers' Market, Spinach, Student, Zucchini

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Produce from some of our amazing agriculture vendo Produce from some of our amazing agriculture vendors at today’s market!
Attention granola lovers!! Today is National Grano Attention granola lovers!! Today is National Granola Day. In honor of this, all sales with our friends from @toganola are 10% off this Saturday only! Their granola products are packaged in sustainable packaging and free of gluten, dairy & soy. 

Our winter market runs today from 9:3-1:30 in the Wilton Mall food court. Hope you can make it!

Photo of and provided by @toganola 

#saratogasprings #saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket #granola #toganola #thingstodoinupstateny #organic #shopsmall #shoplocal #nationalgranoladay
Our new 2023 Freshconnect $2 coupons arrived today Our new 2023 Freshconnect $2 coupons arrived today! For every $5 you spend using your SNAP/EBT card at our market, receive $2 in coupons. FreshConnect bucks can be used to buy: vegetables, meat, milk, eggs, honey, baked items, jams, plants that bear food, and prepared foods that are packed to eat at home. Plus, there’s no cap on issuance! Stop by our information stand to learn more. We’ll be open 9:30-1:30 tomorrow. ❄️🌾

#freshconnect #snap #ebt #nutrition #health #agriculture #shoplocal #shopssmall #farmtotable #saratogasprings #saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket #thingstodoinupstateny @wilton_mall_leasing
Interested in growing your business? Farmers’ ma Interested in growing your business? Farmers’ markets are a great way to start networking and finding your customer base. For 45 years, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market has provided a platform for local farmers, artisans, bakers and more build their businesses into what they are today. If you’d like to join our community, please submit your 2023 Summer Vendor application. The link can be found in our bio. Last day to apply is January 31st. DM us here or email me at sfma.manager@gmail.com with any questions!! 

#farmersmarket #startup #smallbusiness #shoplocal #entrepreneur #community #saratogasprings #thingstodoinupstateny #growyourbusiness

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