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Farmers’ Market is Local to the Core

October 24, 2017 By marketeditor

By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

 

High Rock Park, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

It’s 8 a.m. on a Saturday. Saratoga Springs is waking up, smelling the coffee and contemplating the day. Meanwhile, at High Rock Park, farmers are arriving from Milton, Ballston Lake, Argyle, Fort Edward, Salem and elsewhere. Within an hour they will create a space that represents local, food, farming and community at its best.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is local to the core. Farmers grow their vegetables and fruits, raise their animals, and make their artisanal cheeses, bread, and other goods mostly within a four-county radius. They rely on Saratoga shoppers to buy their goods as much as Saratoga relies on them for farm fresh food. This shared fellowship keeps money in our economy, strengthens our food systems and lets farmers and other businesses thrive.

What does local look like? How does it work? This glimpse into the farmers’ market provides some clues.

8:15 am and farmers are carousing with each other as they unload squash, lettuce, apples, beans and other goods. Tables snap open, tablecloths unfold. Bales of straw, sheaves of corn stalks, and pumpkins — hundreds of pumpkins — find their place. In between, the farmers sip coffee, joke about the weather and brag good-naturedly about their goods. They check out each other’s stalls. They will buy from or barter with each other, knowing that the cooperative nature of a farmers’ market means supporting each other.

The early birds arrive. Selling cannot start until 9 a.m. But that doesn’t restrict regulars from checking out the offerings — or when an item is in short supply lining up to buy it first.

“Got any arugula?” The question comes from a market regular.

“Yeah,” replies a farmer. “Right here. Have a look and taste.”

Two women line up for a pumpkin soup sample prepared by Friends of the Market volunteers. “Are you always here this early?” a volunteer asks. “Oh yes,” replied the women, with one noting that she comes in from Ticonderoga.

9 a.m. and vendor Anna Mae Clark rings a bell. The market springs to action. Shoppers fill their bags, local musicians play their hearts out, and children and parents crowd around a table where the weekly activity features pumpkin painting. By 11 a.m., the volunteers’ soup tureen is empty and market director Julia Howard is scrambling to find more pumpkins. One farmer drives back to his farm for more gourds while another provides five dozen. For Howard, the popularity of pumpkins is a coup. More children mean more families, more shoppers — and more future farmers.

As 1 p.m. approaches, gifts of food pile up for musicians as do donations for Franklin Community Center’s food pantry with which the market partners.

The bell rings. The market ends. The farmers pack up and head home, knowing that they’ll be back again.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market moves Nov. 4 to its winter location at the Lincoln Baths Building in Saratoga Spa State Park, where the market will continue Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

 

Filed Under: Featured Article, News Tagged With: business, Local, Rennselaer County, Saratoga County, Saratoga Farmers' Market, Schenectady County, shop local, Washington County, year round

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Our FINAL market at the Wilton mall is tomorrow! S Our FINAL market at the Wilton mall is tomorrow! Starting this Wednesday, June 1st,
High Rock Park will be our new location for both Wednesday 3-6pm and Saturday 9-1pm markets. Rain or shine, we hope to see you there!

#supportlocal #farmtotable #saratogasprings #saratogafarmersmarket
#shopsmall
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

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