By Julia Howard
Local food and farming as all about following seasonal rhythms. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market also abides by springtime signals of warmer weather and longer days with its annual return to High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. But don’t hurry to High Rock just yet. There is one more market indoors at the Wilton Mall on Saturday, April 29, before the customary move outdoors that will kick off on Wednesday, May 3, from 3-6 pm.
This year’s return of the midweek market to downtown Saratoga offers a more intimate, slower-paced alternative to the Saturday markets. Product offerings include fresh produce, plants and flowers, eggs, baked goods, prepared foods, crafts, tool sharpening services, and more.
For customers, the smaller size of the Wednesday market is a draw with smaller crowds, more convenient parking options, and opportunities for meaningful interactions with farms and businesses selling at the farmers’ market.
“Since there’s less traffic, products don’t sell out as quickly, and there’s not such a rush for customers to get to the market. The atmosphere is very laid back,” adds Charles Holub, owner of Scotch Ridge Berry & Tree Farm.
This season’s Wednesday markets will introduce new vendors like Meltwater Farm, Greener Pastures, The Bread Butler, Caliva Cookie, and others. Market-goers will be reunited with returning businesses like Owl Wood Farm, Squash Villa Farm, Gomez Veggie Ville, Mister Edge Sharpening, Euro Delicacies, Saratoga Apple, and more.
Adding to the Wednesday market’s appeal are this season’s educational workshops, community programs, and events for children and families that will be offered exclusively at the midweek market.
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is pleased to partner with Loving Earth Compost to offer an accessible community composting program to market shoppers, promoting sustainability and environmental consciousness.
A family-friendly affair, this season’s Wednesday markets will offer the Power of Produce Club with themed activities for children of all ages (June 21 through September 6). The 12-week program offers cooking demonstrations, scavenger hunts, crafts, and farmer meet and greets that provide nutrition, agriculture, and exercise education. Each child will be given a $2 POP token to purchase fresh fruit or vegetables at the market.
Market-goers can also expect weekly live music and community guests (including the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners offering gardening tips and soil). On Wednesdays in July and August, representatives from the Office for the Aging will hand out free Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program coupons for fruits and vegetables at the farmers’ market. Market-goers can also enjoy a free, 1-hour educational workshop series beginning in June with topics covering sustainable living.
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Wilton Mall Food Court. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. The farmers’ market will return to High Rock Park on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
