• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Shop Local, Eat Fresh at the Saratoga Farmers' Market | Food, Crafts, Music in Saratoga Springs

Shop Local, Eat Fresh

  • Markets
    • Our Markets
  • Vendors
    • Vendor Directory
    • Becoming a Vendor
  • About Us
    • SFM Association
    • History
  • Programs & Events
    • SNAP/EBT & FMNP
    • POP Club for Kids
    • Summer Internships
    • Compost Collection
    • Workshops
    • Events
  • Get Involved
  • News
    • Featured Article
    • Seasonal Recipes
    • Weekly Newsletter
  • FAQ
  • Contact us
    • Message us!

Market Volunteers

Friend the Market!

January 2, 2019 By marketeditor

By Kristin Cleveland

Connecting with community, supporting local agriculture and small businesses, and discovering new foods and recipes — that’s what motivates the Friends of the Market. The Friends organization was created in 2011 to support vendors and customers of the Saratoga Farmers’ Market and to help educate the larger community about the benefits of locally sourced food.

Alexandra Morgan, one of the original Friends, recalls “My favorite memory is of helping a vendor who was overwhelmed with customers. That situation led to a valued friendship. To be able to step into a situation and help out is very gratifying.”

Friends of the Market volunteer Chris Toole enjoys helping out. Photo by Pattie Garret.

Chris Toole, another long-time Friend, encourages others to volunteer for this “ambassador-like” position, particularly if they love meeting and helping people. She explains, “the joking and camaraderie of the vendors is a joy. I’ve made wonderful friends in all of the people here. They make me laugh and I’m always learning things.”

Often these lessons are about new foods to try. Toole describes, “The best new food I ever heard about here, from Pura Vida Fisheries, was for Blowfish Tails. I sautéed them in butter and garlic and they were marvelous!” Since Toole found that Blowfish Tails are only available seasonally, she now asks the Pura Vida folks for other recommendations depending on the season. Another Friend, Sally Willse, also loves a recipe she learned from a market vendor, The Vermont Spätzle Company, which combines their gluten-free spätzle with local Brussels sprouts, bacon and maple syrup. 

Friends help out in various ways depending on their talents and interests. Tasks include greeting customers and answering questions, helping people transport purchases to their cars, covering vendor stalls while the farmers and chefs take breaks, taking photos for use in social media and educational presentations, and teaching people of all ages about cooking and local food. Willse describes her favorite market experiences, “The times I help with kids’ activities. Once the kids were drawing vegetables at the market; it was fun to see and hear their perspectives about their favorite foods.”

Alexandra Morgan helps with a market children’s activity. Photo by Pattie Garrett

Darlene McGraw sums up her reason for becoming a Friend this way: “I volunteer because I love to support local small businesses. I celebrate ‘Small Business Saturday’ every week!”

To learn about joining the Friends of the Market, e-mail friends@saratogafarmersmarket.org or come to the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, currently at its winter home in the Lincoln Baths on Saturdays, 9 am – 1 pm.

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: Blowfish Tails, celebrating small, Friends of the Market, Market Volunteers, Pure Vida Fisheries, Small Business Saturday, volunteer, volunteering

Before Footer

Instagram

Our first outdoor market’s tomorrow!!! Stop by H Our first outdoor market’s tomorrow!!! Stop by High Rock Park from 3-6pm to join us for the the start of our 45th season! 

Swipe right to see our 2023 list of Wednesday vendors. 🌾👩‍🌾

Find us every Wednesday and Saturday in High Rock Park, now through October. Hope you can make it!

#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #thingstodoinupstateny #agriculture #518makers #shoplocal #farmtotable
It's almost time for our beloved Saratoga Farmers' It's almost time for our beloved Saratoga Farmers' Market to move outdoors to High Rock Park! But before we do, join us one last time indoors at the Wilton Mall tomorrow from 9:30-1:30!

Support us by making a purchase at our first ever Tag Sale! Located by the information stand- all proceeds go the the Saratoga Farmers’ Market Association.

We move back to High Rock Park this Wednesday, May 3rd from 3-6 pm. See you there! 🍅🌽🍓 

#SaratogaFarmersMarket #ShopLocal #SupportLocalFarms #SeasonalRhythms #HighRockPark #WiltonMall #DowntownSaratoga
Only one market left until we move outside! Hope y Only one market left until we move outside! Hope you can make it for the last of our winter markets. Stop by this Saturday in the Wilton Mall food court from 9:30-1:30 and say hi to all your favorite winter vendors!

Our first outdoor market is this Wednesday May 3rd, from 3pm-6pm. Join us in High Rock Park for the start of our Summer season!
Happy Earth Day!! Stop by our market today from 9: Happy Earth Day!! Stop by our market today from 9:30-1:30! It’s our second to last market inside at the Wilton mall before our big move May 3rd to High Rock Park.

#earthday #agriculture #farmersmarket #saratogasprings #saratogafarmersmarket #thingstodoinupstateny

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

With support from our friends at:

Copyright © 2023 · Saratoga Farmers Market · Design by REACH CREATIVE

    COVID-19: Check our latest Safety Guidelines!
  • Markets
    • Our Markets
  • Vendors
    • Vendor Directory
    • Becoming a Vendor
  • About Us
    • SFM Association
    • History
  • Programs & Events
    • SNAP/EBT & FMNP
    • POP Club for Kids
    • Summer Internships
    • Compost Collection
    • Workshops
    • Events
  • Get Involved
  • News
    • Featured Article
    • Seasonal Recipes
    • Weekly Newsletter
  • FAQ
  • Contact us
    • Message us!