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sustainable

Sustaining sustainability at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market

January 2, 2020 By marketeditor

By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

Photo by Pattie Garrett

Farmers lived sustainable lives long before climate change became a pressing issue. Members of multi-generation farm families tell stories of how nothing went to waste. Bones from a roast chicken became broth; food scraps from meals were turned into compost; old storage bins were repurposed to create walking paths or signposts.

Sustainability is gaining a new meaning in 2020 for farmers, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, and all of us. Beginning March 1, a statewide ban on the distribution of single-use plastic bags at retail outlets takes effect. Farmers and other vendors at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market will no longer be able to offer such bags as a convenience to market shoppers, though certain items such as bags for storing meats and produce are exempt.

The market has been preparing for several months with information tables and market tote bags available for a nominal fee. Vendors have been reducing their supplies of plastic bags, replacing them with those made of paper or other materials.

We invite you to help us make the market more sustainable. Here are a few ideas:

Reusable mesh produce bag in use at Pleasant Valley Farm, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

Bring your own bags. Washable mesh or net bags made of recycled plastic offer an easy-to-carry means of storing such items as leeks and greens.

Forgo bags altogether, if you can. This might not be possible for fragile items such as pea shoots or salad greens. But it’s do-able for carrots, turnips, cabbage, apples, and other items that are featured in the market’s winter months. Foods such as fish and fresh pasta also can be placed upon purchase in storage containers you bring from home.

Return such items as egg cartons or glass jars to vendors for reuse. Vendors who sell eggs, cheeses, pickles, jams, corn, milk, yogurt, and other foods appreciate such returns as it helps reduce the costs incurred in obtaining these items.

If you eat at the market, consider bringing your own plate, bowl and silverware.

Argyle Cheese Farmer accepts glass jar returns, photo by Pattie Garrett

Finally, shop the market for crafts items that can further make your lives more sustainable. Many crafts vendors offer coffee mugs, reusable egg crates, bowls, and boxes.

 

This week’s recipe: Whatever Soup

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: bags, mesh, net, plastic, recycling, return, returning, reusable, reuse, reusing, sustainability, sustainable

Going Green at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market

October 14, 2019 By marketeditor

By Catherine Morba

Since 1994, the number of registered farmers’ markets nationwide has increased from under 2,000 to more than 8,600. Communities have renewed interest in eating locally grown food, a change that for many is motivated by the desire to be more environmentally conscious. At its core, buying local is a sustainable choice because of reduced transportation and food packaging. There are simple ways to make market shopping that much more (or rather, less!) impactful on the planet. The Saratoga Farmers’ Market collaborated with Sustainable Saratoga to compile tips for shoppers to be as “green” as the leafy collards we covet.

Photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

1. Write a shopping list: Check the refrigerator to see what groceries you already have before leaving the house. A list will also limit the number of shopping trips you’ll take for forgotten items throughout the week.

2. Carpool: Trade off driving with family and friends to save on mileage and emissions. Bike or walk if you are able! Remember that on November 2nd, the market will move to Wilton Mall, where it will be held from 9:30-1:30 every Saturday in front of the Bon Ton entrance.

3. Take a bag, leave a bag: Have a stock of reusable bags at the ready. The Friends of the Market volunteers offer a “take a bag, leave a bag” initiative for those who forget to bring them, and also accepts donations of reusable totes.

Battenkill Valley Creamery, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

4. Return packaging: When making a purchase, ask the vendor if they reuse packaging. Battenkill Creamery sterilizes and reuses all of their glass dairy bottles that are rinsed and returned by customers. Bring back egg cartons, berry boxes, plastic planters, glassware, or rubber bands. Dump sturdier produce into a bag and return the packaging on the spot.

5. Buy in bulk: Buying large quantities of staple items saves on packaging, especially when you bring containers from home. Vegetables, cheeses, and meats can be repackaged and frozen for later use.

6. Contribute Compost: Divert food from the waste stream by bringing food scraps from home to add to the market compost bin, located near the market administrator’s table. The compost is brought to the Franklin Community Center and used for soil enrichment in their community garden.

Gomez Veggie Ville, photo courtesy of Pattie Garrett

7. Ask a vendor: If you’re looking for tips on proper food storage, returning packaging, buying in bulk, or cooking seasonal recipes, the best source of information is the person who grew, raised, or made the product.

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: Battenkill Valley Creamery, Franklin Community Center, Friends of the Market, Gomez Veggie Ville, green, sustainability, sustainable, Sustainable Saratoga, tips

Roasted Duck

November 7, 2018 By marketeditor

Adapted from a recipe from Maple Leaf Farms

* Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market

Ingredients

One whole fresh duck*

Optional seasonings

1 T. kosher salt

1-1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp. paprika

1 head garlic* or 1 onion*
celery* stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Remove duck from bag and pat dry.
  3. Place duck in roasting pan, and rub salt, pepper and paprika over outside and inside, if using. Place garlic or onion and celery into cavity, if using.
  4. Roast for 15 minutes, then remove from oven and lower heat to 350 degrees.
  5. Cover duck with foil and continue to cook for approximately 10 minutes a pound, turning meat halfway through the cooking time. 
  6. Remove from oven and let duck rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.

*You can prepare a fresh turkey following this recipe, as well. Simply add 3 minutes per pound of cooking time in step 5.

Filed Under: News, Seasonal Recipes Tagged With: duck, fowl, holiday recipe, locally sourced meat, recipe, roast, Squashville Farm, sustainable

Traditional Holiday Turkey and Duck Fresh and Sustainable from the Farmers’ Market

November 7, 2018 By marketeditor

By Himanee Gupta-Carlson

The season of feasts creates a reason to focus on holiday birds such as turkeys and ducks. This fresh and sustainable poultry can now be found at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. 

For turkey, check in with Ramble Creek Farm and Mariaville Mushroom Men. For duck, speak with Squashville Farm. All of these farms encourage advance orders.

In an era of convenience cooking, the prospect of roasting a bird as big as a turkey (10 pounds at a minimum) or a duck (six to eight pounds) might seem daunting. Why do it? And how? Let’s start by looking at what makes these poultry so flavorful.

Ramble Creek turkeys grazing by their mobile roost.

Ramble Creek owner Josh Carnes explains, “our turkeys arrived on farm as little poults on July 18, and grew to maturity on pasture.” He adds, “Turkeys forage a lot, way more than chickens. If moved to fresh grass on a regular basis, they get a large amount of their diet from the land.”

Squashville Farm owner Jim Gupta-Carlson notes that all of the animals raised on his farm – chickens, ducks, and goats – play a role in supporting the health of each other as well as the soil and vegetables that the farm cultivates. For example, “Ducks are particularly vital to keeping the populations of snails, which are pests to goats, under control.”  Additionally, Gupta-Carlson says, “Because the ducks are raised outdoors, they run and they fly, and they live and eat like ducks.”

All of these local farm animals live to near-maturity and are processed on site. According to Carnes, this eases stress on the “one bad day” and helps create “an extremely high quality and flavorful finished product.”

As for cooking, simpler is better. Our accompanying recipe shows that there is no need to do such things as piercing the skin, parboiling in advance, or adding a lot of seasonings because, as Carnes notes, “the flavor of pastured birds truly stands on its own.” The basic steps involve roasting for 15 minutes at a high heat, then lowering the heat to continue cooking. Let the meat rest about 15 minutes before serving. 

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

 

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: buy local, farm fresh, fresh duck, fresh turkey, holiday feast, holiday recipes, local duck, local turkey, locally sourced duck, locally sourced meat, locally sourced turkey, Saratoga Farmers' Market, sustainable, Thanksgiving recipes

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Looking forward to another Saturday market! Since Looking forward to another Saturday market! Since January is National Soup Month (and this week sure has been a cold one), why not grab a soup kit from Gomez Veggie Ville this Saturday and get to creating some hearty homemade soups? Find us 9:30am - 1:30pm in the Wilton Mall food court to get your weekly fix of good food!
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#farmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogasprings #saratoga #eatlocal #shoplocal #supportlocal #food #fresh #local #518 #soup #nationalsoupmonth
Looking to grow your business in the new year? Ven Looking to grow your business in the new year? Vendor applications for our summer market are now open from January 15th-31st! Local farmers, artisans, crafters, and specialty food makers are welcome to apply. For more information visit our website https://www.saratogafarmersmarket.org/vendor/
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#saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket #farmersmarketfresh #saratogany #wilton #smallbusinesssaratoga #localbusiness #smallbusiness #smallbusinesssupport
Another week, another Market Crush Monday! This we Another week, another Market Crush Monday! This week we talked to Argyle Cheese Farmer’s Dave, who brings a variety of aged cheeses, curds, yogurt, smoothies, frozen pizzas, and more to the market each week!

1. How did you get started with Argyle Cheese Farmer?
My wife, Marge, and I started back in 2007 with producing yogurt, buttermilk and cheese on my family farmstead which had been in operation since 1860. Over the years, Marge - who is quite the visionary! - has expanded our business and product line immensely but we have always stayed committed to using only high quality milk from local farms without artificial hormones.

2. Can you tell me a little bit about your recent expansion?
We recently opened a retail store and production facility in Hudson Falls where you can buy all of our products as well as a collection of local artisan’s eggs, honey, maple syrup, and much more. The cool thing about this location is that we built it with windows into our production area so you can watch some of your favorites being made!

3. What is your favorite part about vending at the market? 
That would definitely be meeting the people who love our products. I’ve made some really great friends over the years and it's nice to be able to see familiar faces each week. 

Be sure to visit the Argyle Cheese Farmer every Saturday from 9:30 to 1:30 in the Wilton Mall food court! 

Are you interested in becoming a vendor at the market? Our summer vendor applications are open now from January 15th-31st! Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to grow your business and join the farmers’ market community!
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#saratogafarmersmarket #farmersmarket #saratoga #knowyourfarmer #farmermarketfinds #farmfresh #shoplocal #farmersmarketfresh #argylecheesefarmer #argyle #cheese #dairy
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

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