Saratoga Farmers' Market

local food

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market moves indoors on Saturday November 3rd

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by Kristin Cleveland

Tomorrow, November 3rd, is Opening Day for the Saratoga Farmers’ Market winter season! The market will be held from 9 am to 1 pm every Saturday, from now through the end of April, inside the Lincoln Baths building at 65 South Broadway in the Saratoga Spa State Park.

Just before the 9 am opening bell tomorrow, Saratoga Mayor Meg Kelly, NYS Parks Assistant Regional Director David Barone, Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau president Darryl Leggieri, Spa State Park General Manager David Guest, and longtime local conservationist Barbara Glaser will share in a brief ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the start of the winter market season and the benefits of having the year-round Saratoga Farmers’ Market. 

Then, at 9 am, customers can head indoors to shop from over 40 farmers, specialty foods vendors and local artists, hear acoustic music, and enjoy the camaraderie of connecting with the community on Saturdays throughout the winter in a beautiful and fully accessible historic building. 

Saratoga Farmers’ Market indoors at the Lincoln Baths. Photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

The musical guest for November 3rd will be an unplugged version of the ever popular Running the River band; information about additional upcoming Saturday musicians, sponsors of children’s activities, and other guests can be found on the calendar page of www.saratogafarmersmarket.org. Also on the website is a link to sign up for a weekly email newsletter, making it easy to find out about seasonal vendor offerings and special community events.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market has been in operation since 1978 with a commitment to providing local products from Saratoga county and surrounding Schenectady, Rensselaer, Washington and Warren counties. For the next six months on Saturdays at the Lincoln Baths, customers will find a wide variety of fresh, locally grown autumn and winter vegetables, fruit and mushrooms. Also available all winter season will be locally produced meat, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese, yogurt, milk, homemade baked goods, jams, wine, spirits, soap, and freshly prepared and ready-to-eat foods. New farms at this year’s winter market are Ramble Creek Farm, Squashville Farm, Green Jeans Market Farm, and Saratoga Urban Farm. 

In addition to farm products, the winter “Holiday Market,” offered every Saturday in November and December, provides unique hand-crafted clothing, jewelry, elegant glass art, gourmet dog food and treats, baby items, and other artisan goods perfect for gifts for everyone on a holiday list.

Fall Celebrations at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market

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by Kristin Cleveland

October brings a cornucopia of special activities to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. Along with sales and tastings of autumn’s abundant harvest, we celebrate the last outdoor markets of 2018 with llamas to cuddle, ponies to ride, a pumpkin contest, crafts and children’s activities, live music, and a Halloween Party! 

Saturday, October 13, 9 am-1 pm: Visit with Llamas

Stock up on fresh local farmers’ market food and beverages and meet the llamas of Dakota Ridge Farm! Pet them, learn about their origins and kind temperament and the many uses of their fiber. Children can also decorate a bookmark with llama fiber and everyone can check out the ponchos, blankets, socks, and other products made from high-quality llama fiber. 

Wednesday, October 24, 3-6 pm,: Customer Appreciation Day

As the Saratoga Farmers’ Market’s 40th outdoor market season draws to a close, we say thank you to the community of Saratoga Springs for supporting local farms and businesses! We’ll have fall food tastings and special sales, live music, children’s activities and free pony rides from our friends at Adirondack Dreamcatcher Farm.

Saturday, October 27, 9am-1 pm: Fall Fest

In conjunction with the 17th Annual Downtown Business Association’s Fall Festival, the Saratoga Farmer’s Market will celebrate the fall season in beautiful downtown Saratoga Springs with special activities for people of all ages. Grab a hot breakfast sandwich and cider or coffee and a pastry, stock up on fresh local produce for hearty fall cooking, get a frozen casserole and other locally prepared dishes for quick healthy weeknight meals, enjoy a free fall craft for kids hosted by the Northeast Parent and Child Society, sample pumpkin-spiced treats, and enjoy the seasonal favorites of over 65 vendors gathered in High Rock Park.

Pumpkin display by Burger’s MarketGarden,          photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

Wednesday, October 31, 3-6 pm: Halloween Party

Trick-or-treating, a kids’ costume contest with prizes, a pumpkin-painting craft, a children’s activity sponsored by the Saratoga Springs Public Library, music, delicious fall food tastings, and just the right amount of spooky fun!

Also, all of our market days feature fresh produce, dairy, eggs and meat from Saratoga and nearby counties; wine and spirits from our region’s vintners and distillers; cozy wool hats and other fall apparel; unique jewelry, pottery and specialty items made by local artisans; potted mums and gorgeous fall flower bouquets; and fresh baked goods, prepared food and live music! And as our outdoor season draws to a close, get ready to join us at our winter home every Saturday from November to April inside the Lincoln Baths at the Saratoga Spa State Park, 9 am-1 pm. For more details see our Facebook page!

Farmers’ Market Cheese Board

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By Pattie Garrett

A cheese board is easy and quick to make. Using local products and a little creativity, make an impressive display of colors and flavors.

Cheese: Arrange cheese from different kinds of milk, cow, goat, and sheep, with a variety of texture such as soft, semi-soft, and hard. Include cheeses with different colors and cut them into shapes, cubes, wedges.  Put crumbly cheeses in a small crock or ramekins. Some cheeses are best at room temperature and may need to be taken from the refrigerator an hour before serving. 

Pairs: Although cheeses can stand alone, it’s always nice to offer some pairings such as neutral flavored crackers and baguettes. 

Extras: Fill in the gaps with favorites like fresh fruit, jam, or cured meat. Even granola, bite-sized cookies, and chocolate may work. 

Put It Together: Find a large wooden cutting board, marble or slate tray, even a fancy platter. The surface shouldn’t absorb the moisture from the cheese.  Remember to include small spreaders, spoons, knives, and toothpicks. Leave enough space for your guests to pick from the items on the board.  Add some garnishes, herb, or edible flowers. Let your cheese board show your creative side.

Cheese Board ingredients in the photos: Dancing Ewe’s Pecorino Fresco and Pecorino alle Noci, Argyle Cheese Farmer’s Glory and Basil and Garlic Cheese Curds, Moxie Ridge’s Herbes de Provence Chèvre, bread from Rock Hill Bakehouse, fresh melon from Burger’s MarketGarden, cherry tomatoes from Scotch Ridge Berry Farm, Grapes from Butternut Ridge Farm.

Spicing Up Your Summer Meals

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By: Mariah Rankin

Summer is a time when we find ourselves enjoying the company of others while dining on the fresh and vibrant ingredients that the season brings. Nothing embodies this more than a barbeque, and here at the Saratoga Farmers Market, we have just what you need to “spice” yours up. Three of our vendors specialize in spices and marinades that will help you transform your summer meals.

Momma’s Secret Salad Dressings & Marinades, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

 

Salads are a seasonal favorite, and Momma’s Secret Salad Dressings offers amazing gluten-free dressings made from all-natural ingredients. “Momma’s House Dressing” is a market favorite that also doubles as a marinade. It will add a special touch to any salad or meat. With just a small amount of their dressings, your food will explode with flavor. A portion of their proceeds is also donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.

 

 

Muddy Trail Jerky Co., photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

 

Grilling is another summertime favorite, and Muddy Trail Jerky Co. offers 15 different spice mixes specifically for grilling that will leave your meat bursting with flavor. Their classic “Steak Seasoning” is a customer favorite that contains a delicious blend of onion, garlic, and a variety of herbs and peppers. Along with their other spice mixes, it will give any beef, lamb, pork, or poultry dish a flavorful kick.

 

Saratoga Spicery, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

 

Each week the owners of Saratoga Spicery look forward to hearing their customers share the unique ways they use their products. There are no set rules or guidelines on how to use their spice mixes, the options are limitless. These “spiceries” are unique because almost all of them can be turned into a delicious dip by combining two tablespoons to 4-parts sour cream and 1-part mayo or Greek yogurt. These tasty dips will be sure to please at any summer barbecue.

 

To learn more about these products and get some of your own for your next summer gathering, stop by our market on Saturdays.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open from 3-6 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-1 p.m.on Saturdays at High Rock Park. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and check us out on the FreshFoodNY app. E-mail friends@saratogafarmers.org for volunteer opportunities.

Farmers’ Market Fills the Heart with Health

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By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

 

Winter has truly been wintry this year. Getting out has been a challenge for even the hardiest.

Now, however, begins the countdown to spring. And with that, vendors, volunteers, and staff at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market invite you to join our celebration tomorrow of the city’s annual Health and Wellness Week.

Our goal is to bring you indoors to the market and get you outdoors. To that end, members of the Alpine Sports Shop will offer a free snowshoeing demonstration in front of the Lincoln Baths Building from 10 a.m. to Noon. Everyone who participates will receive a coupon for a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate from “Coffee Lady” Beth Trattel at Something’s Brewing.

Indoors, our vendors will have heart-warming indulgences that are good for you, too. Check out Puckers Gourmet Pickles limited offerings of lacto-fermented cherries, the heart-shaped homemade cheesecakes from Constance Capasso’s Grandma Apple’s Cheesecakes, the delectable handmade sweetness from Saratoga Chocolate Co., the artisanal roasted brews from Jim Williams’s Upper Hudson Coffee, and the cookies and teacakes from Marcie Place’s Chocolate Spoon.

Joining our regular produce, dairy, meat and prepared food vendors will be Cornell Cooperative Extension with recipes and food samples, information tables and demonstrations from local wellness organizations, and children’s activities hosted by the Northeast Parent & Child Society, and the Friends of the Market.

Many market regulars make health and fitness a part of their Saturday morning routines. They stop in to shop after running with groups like the Saratoga Stryders or arrive at the market with cross-country skis or snowshoes.

Yet, as runner Frank Lombard admits, it takes a bit of a push to get outdoors in the winter when the weather is bleak. “The biggest challenge is getting in motion,” he says. “But once you’re outdoors, it’s euphoric. There are so many benefits to being outside, to being with nature. It’s just a matter of overcoming that 10 to 15 minutes of resistance.”

So join us tomorrow morning. Try out some snowshoeing, and have a warm beverage. Fill your bag with our farm-fresh produce and a few other market treats. Your body and mind will thank you. We promise.

Visit the Saratoga Farmers’ Market 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the Lincoln Baths Building in Saratoga Spa State Park; follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram; and contact friends@saratogafarmersmarket.org for volunteer opportunities.

After Visiting the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, Curl Up with Cookbooks

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By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

 

Colder nights create excuses to make meals that warm the soul. If you’re looking for ideas, check out some of the cookbooks that farmers and volunteers with the Saratoga Farmers’ Market use. These books offer instructions and ideas for bringing out the finest flavors of our local foods and insights into the lives of those who grow and create these foods year-round:

For basics, start with The Joy of Cooking, which has been on volunteer Alexandra Morgan’s bookshelf since she received it as a graduation gift in 1993. Darina Allen’s Forgotten Skills of Cooking, which Leah Hennessy of Moxie Ridge Farm & Creamery describes as “what I’m all about,” similarly is more about the simplicity of such processes as dressing game, curing pork, making butter.

For meat, Christophe Robert of Longlesson Farm swears by two books. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s The River Cottage Meat Book has recipes for the beef and pork cuts he sells at the market “that are spot on.” Fergus Henderson’s The Whole Beast: Nose to Tail Eating is Robert’s “book that lets me dream.” Its recipes are more challenging, but Robert says, they speak to an ethics of raising animals and eating meat in a way that uses the whole animal with love and care.

Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking remains market volunteer Chris Toole’s favorite cookbook in her collection of 100-plus for such recipes as daube de boeuf (a beef stew marinated in red wine), because the ingredients “almost all are available right here, at the market.”

Making the most of maple is Slate Valley Farm’s Gina Willis’s passion. She is writing her own cookbook, based on recipes from her grandmother and great-grandmother for using the maple products made at her family’s farm. She often turns to chef Martin Picard’s Au Pied de Cochoon Sugar Shack for inspiration.

And when in doubt the Internet offers quick answers. Mark Bocain of Freddy’s Rockin’ Hummus appreciates Rachael Ray’s cooking site for meal ideas “that fall somewhere between simple and elaborate.” Volunteer Jim Gupta-Carlson types his ingredients on hand into a search box. Scrolling through the results often determines what he makes for dinner on a given night.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays at the Lincoln Baths Building in the Saratoga Spa State Park. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.