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Farmers’ Market Finds Success During Unprecedented Times

August 11, 2020 By marketeditor

By Madeline McCarthy

Photo by Pattie Garrett

Normally, farmers’ markets are a space for customers to interact with their local food producers and community, sipping iced drinks while watching musicians play. But in the age of social distancing, making that gathering happen is impossible.

On March 20th, Governor Cuomo declared farmers’ markets essential businesses. Local food vendors were allowed to sell their products as long as they followed certain requirements, such as limiting the number of customers at their tables and changing the presentation of their stalls in order to encourage social distancing.

Fast forward nearly half a year, and our vendors have settled into the new way of doing business. We caught up with some of our vendors to see what this means for them, and noticed a trend: for many, the coronavirus has all but slowed down sales.

Feathered Antler, photo by Pattie Garrett

“My sales have been up 200%,” states Christophe Robert, a local meat producer who runs Longlesson Farm, as he chalks “sold out” next to another one of his products. He notes that since markets are outside and enforcing social distancing, more customers feel at ease. Robert continues, “Customers know that it’s only one person who’s touched the packaging, it’s not a big store where you don’t know where the product has been before it landed in your hands.”

In an effort to maintain these safe production lines, vendors have changed their displays to allow for more visual browsing.

“Usually, I have more of a built up display, but now I make sure everything is spread out and visible, so [customers] don’t have to pick it up in order to admire it,” says Gretchen Tisch, artist and owner of Feathered Antler. She believes that the alterations have changed shopping behaviors, causing customers to make more instant decisions about the products they purchase.

The Food Florist, photo By Eric Jenks

One concern has arisen for vendors that work with outside businesses. When chatting with Trisha Nussbaum from the Food Florist, which specializes in pre-made meals, she mentions that it became harder to acquire raw ingredients, encountering a chicken, pork, and beef shortage due to COVID. Though this has slowed down their production, it hasn’t slowed down their order demands.

“For us, we’re just doing what we always have, but with more ovens,” she summarizes with a laugh.

 

This week’s recipe: Boston Butt with Gravy

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Feathered Antler, Longlesson Farm, The Food Florist, vendors

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Give your gut a little love during these cold, dar Give your gut a little love during these cold, dark winter months! Grab @puckersgourmet probiotics, like pickles, kimchi, and sauerkraut, at the market this Saturday. We'll be open with 40+ local vendors from 9:30am til 1:30pm at the Wilton Mall food court. Healthy has never tasted so delicious!

🤸 What's your favorite gut-boosting food? 🤸
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#farmersmarket #saratoga #saratogasprings #saratogafarmersmarket #upstateny #pickles #probiotics #puckersgourmet #puckerspickles #tasty #healthy
Market Crush Monday is back! This week we talked t Market Crush Monday is back! This week we talked to Laurie from Kokinda Farm who brings her homemade jams & jellies, vegetables, eggs, bread and a variety of hand-sewn items to the market.

1. How did you get started with your farm?
My parents were dairy farmers and I always had a garden and did a lot of canning. Then I just happened to meet someone who got me into the market and have slowly learned things by trial and error to get to where I am today.

2. Do you have a favorite jam?
Definitely my peach jam that I make with my own peaches! Around 60% of my jams are made with all my own fruit that I grow and the rest I supplement with fresh fruit from local pick yourself farms.

3. Why do you like vending at the farmers market?
I love working for myself and being able to interact directly with customers, it’s very rewarding. It’s also great getting to know other local farmers and be able to share stories, information and goals with each other. I've been a school bus driver for the past 23 years but this May I’ll be retiring and am very excited to go full time for farming!

Are you also a local farmer or producer and are you looking to expand your business in 2021? Our summer season vendor applications are open January 15th-31st! Keep an eye out on our page for how to apply. And make sure to stop by Kokinda Farms every Saturday from 9:30-1:30 in the Wilton Mall food court!
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#saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket #saratoga #knowyourfarmer #farmermarketfinds #farmfresh #shoplocal #farmersmarketfresh #smallbusiness #growyourbusiness #smallbusinesssaratoga
Shop safely at the market! Please don't touch any Shop safely at the market! Please don't touch any products before purchasing, just point at what you want and our vendors will bag your order for you! This Saturday, lots of vendors will be back after a holiday break - pick up goodies like freshly caught fish from Pura Vida Fisheries. We'll be open 9:30am - 1:30pm in the @wilton_mall_leasing food court.

What's your order from Pura Vida? 🐟

📸: @mysaratogakitchentable
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#farmersmarket #saratogasprings #upstateny #shoplocal #knowyourfarmer #fish #freshfish
Are your healthy new year's resolutions already a Are your healthy new year's resolutions already a little hard to stick to? We feel ya! So instead of cutting out the foods you love and feeling bad when you inevitably "cheat", try upgrading your favorite comfort meals with real, fresh, and healthier ingredients. Like this butternut mac & "cheese" made by @mysaratogakitchentable! Grab some good ingredients at this Saturday's market and get cooking. We'll be open our normal times, 9:30-1:30 at the Wilton Mall food court - with a slightly smaller group of vendors still due to the holidays, but a full array of fresh foods.
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#saratogafarmersmarket #saratoga #saratogany #iloveny #farmersmarket #capitalregion #knowyourfarmer

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