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TogaNola

Local businesses take an eco-friendly approach

April 21, 2023 By marketeditor

By Julia Howard

 

Sustainability is a word that we often hear, and although its meaning is understood, putting it into action and accepting it as our responsibility may be more challenging. We recycle, avoid plastic bags, and some plant trees or bike over driving. But how do we take these actions a step further? How do we balance the natural environment, healthy communities, and economic vitality? As we work together to find the answers, local farms and businesses at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market share their earth-minded approach.

“We try to be environmentally conscious with everything we make and do,” explains Ken Rhodes of TogaNola. “We use raw ingredients, and the process has literally no waste. And, we’re all about the packaging.” TogaNola uses biodegradable paper packaging and compostable plant-based cellulose packaging for its products.

TogaNola, photo provided

Businesses like Junbucha and Moon Cycle Seed Company share similar sentiments, prioritizing environmental stewardship by composting food waste and recycling in their production facility. Filtering systems reduce water consumption during processing.

At Kokinda Farm, composted manure nourishes the soil, ensuring balanced nutrients for a successful growing season. The farm is also committed to reusing and recycling found and thrown-away items. “It’s amazing what people throw away,” says Laurie Kokinda, the farm owner. “We use discarded tomato cages and even found a giant insulated cooler for my farm stand.”

Many local farms compost, rotate crops, and use cover crops to hold soil nutrients. These farming practices are vital in supporting land ecology. Lovin’ Mama and Owl Wood Farm promote no-till, regenerative farming, understanding that undisturbed soil layers build a healthy ecosystem with many benefits—mainly healthy soil to grow healthy food.

Hebron Valley Veal, photo provided

Hebron Valley Meats owners Ariel Garland and Matt Campbell carefully manage their farm with sustainable practices. “We rotationally graze our cows and believe in keeping everything super local. We source hay locally and use a local butcher,” Ariel explains.

At Hepatic Farm, Melanie Seserman and Arthur Kraamwinkel have found the best way to raise Certified Organic poultry is in the pasture. “Our poultry is totally all-natural,” says Melanie. “As soon as the chickens hatch, they are shipped to the farm overnight, and we give them organic feed. Every day they are moved to fresh pasture. It’s the real deal.”

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.

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: Eco-Friendly, environmental stewardship, Hebron Valley Meats, hepatica farm, Lovin' Mama Farm, Moon Cycle Seed Company, Owl Wood Farm, TogaNola

Maple Syrup a Sign of Spring

March 14, 2022 By marketeditor

By Julia Howard

In the quiet of the night, on the eve of a March snowstorm, Slate Valley Farms’ owners Pat Imbimbo and his daughter Gina Willis began boiling sap for their first batch of maple syrup for the season. 

“Last year, we started boiling on Valentine’s Day, so I worked hard and tapped our entire farm in February thinking I was behind,” says Gina. “But then it stayed cold this whole time, so I had weeks of waiting and checking every day to see if we could start boiling.”

For maple syrup producers, the climate is a crucial factor. When daytime temperatures rise above freezing and nighttime temperatures fall below freezing, the fluctuation creates pressure in the maple trees, encouraging sap to flow. 

120-yr-old maple at Slate Valley Farms, courtesy of Slate Valley Farms

This season, Pat and Gina tapped 4,000 maple trees on their 101-acre family-run farm in the hills of Granville near the Vermont border. 

Their sap-gathering is automated, using a vacuum system Pat monitors on his iPhone. The sap runs through a reverse osmosis system, removing much of the water before boiling.  This method results in less boiling time, less fuel, and a better quality syrup. 

This Saturday, March 19, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market celebrates the beginning of maple season and the return of Slate Valley with the season’s first batch of maple syrup. There will be plenty of maple-infused food and drinks to enjoy, too!

 

TogoNola, photo by Toni Nastasi

TogaNola offers $1 off of its products made with locally-produced maple syrup. Nettle Meadow will bring their maple chevre, and R&G Cheesemakers will have their sweet and spicy maple chipotle chevre. Argyle Cheese Farmer will have maple Greek yogurt and traditional maple yogurt. Stop by Something’s Brewing for a maple latte or a bag of maple-nut flavored coffee beans. Muddy Trail’s Jerky Co. will bring a variety of maple products: maple beef snack sticks, maple BBQ dry rub, and pancake mix for soaking up all that delicious maple syrup.

Various local farms will bring eggs, bacon, and ham to make sweet and savory maple-drenched breakfasts to help you celebrate maple season at home.

Children and families can look forward to a maple-themed activity at Saturday’s celebration of maple season.

At Slate Valley Farms, Gina is hopeful for a lengthy and abundant maple sap harvest with prolonged cold temperatures. A reason for all of us to appreciate the changeable temperatures that come with spring’s onset.

This weeks recipe: Baked Oatmeal with Maple Syrup

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: Argyle Cheese Farmer, boiling sap, eat local, farmers markets, Granville, Local, local farmers, local farms, local producers, maple, Maple Day, maple month, maple products, maple syrup, maple trees, march, Nettle Meadow, R&G Cheesemakers, sap, Saratoga Farmers' Market, Saratoga Spings, shop local, shop small, shop small business, Slate Valley Farm, Something's Brewing, sugar maples, sugar shack, TogaNola

TogaNola’s Snacks Feed Adventurous Souls

August 3, 2021 By marketeditor

By Madison Jackson

TogaNola, photo by Pattie Garrett

In 2015, Katie Rhodes began training for her first marathon. Constantly hungry from her busy schedule, granola bars became her go-to snack until she took a closer look at the ingredients she was putting in her body. Most traditional granola bars are highly processed and packed with sugar. Looking to keep herself both full and healthy for her training, Katie decided to make her own granola bar using healthier ingredients and the Charlie Bar was born: a dark chocolate, apricot, and almond bar. Not long after, friends and coworkers began placing orders for bars and the personal venture became a business: TogaNola was formed. “With a mission to provide clean energy for everyone who aspires to be a better version of themselves,” says Rhodes.

Ken & Katie Rhodes, photo provided

In the past 6 years, TogaNola has expanded its range beyond its now 5 flavors of granola bars, adding granola clusters and “protein bombs” in a variety of flavors, like Maple Almond Butter and Blueberry & Ginger Sunflower Seed. All TogaNola products are free of gluten, dairy, and soy, and several flavors are vegan, so there are many options to accommodate dietary restrictions of all types. The business is committed to using locally sourced ingredients, compostable packaging, natural sweeteners (such as local honey and maple syrup), and small-batch baking.

Whether it’s a hike on a warm summer morning or skiing on a cold winter day, granola is the perfect snack for all types of adventures. Rhodes can attest to that herself: TogaNola granola bars and clusters have accompanied Katie on countless trips including a single season round of the 46 High Peaks last winter. “The bars are hearty and easily transported in a mess free package. They don’t freeze solid, even in the freezing winter temperatures in the Adirondacks, which is crucial to support Katie on her big hikes,” says husband and co-owner Ken Rhodes.

TogaNola at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, photo provided

TogaNola got its start selling at local farmers’ markets and has recently expanded to include an online store and partnerships with local businesses. Katie and Ken are excited to be joining the Saratoga Farmers’ Market as an opportunity to interact directly with their customers and meet other local vendors.

TogaNola’s next adventure? Handmade, locally sourced dehydrated meals to fuel trips that span multiple days. Keep an eye out for this new product later this year at the farmers’ market, and stay full and fueled with TogaNola’s granola bars, clusters, and protein bombs, available every Saturday at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.

This week’s recipe: Summer Berry Parfait

Filed Under: homepage feature, News, Seasonal Recipes Tagged With: breakfast, granola, granola bars, granola clusters, healthy snacks, new vendor, summer 2021, TogaNola, vendor profile

Summer Berry Parfait

August 3, 2021 By marketeditor

Photo by Emily Meagher

Summer Berry Parfait
Recipe shared by TogaNola
Serves: 1

Ingredients
*Ingredients currently available at the farmers’ market
● 6 oz vanilla Greek yogurt*
● 3/4 cup blueberries*
● 3/4 cup strawberries*, sliced
● 1/2 banana, sliced
● 1 Tbsp wheat germ
● 1/3 cup TogaNola Granola Clusters*

Instructions
Layer 1/4 cup strawberries, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/3 container yogurt, 1/3 tablespoon wheat germ, 1/3 of the sliced banana, and about 2 tablespoons of granola in a large bowl. Continue to build the parfait, repeating the layers until all of the ingredients are used completely. Enjoy!

Filed Under: News, Seasonal Recipes Tagged With: blueberries, breakfast, fruit, granola, granola clusters, Greek yogurt, parfait, strawberries, Summer, TogaNola, Yogurt

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Today is the day for the Monday Market! Start you Today is the day for the Monday Market!

Start your week with us in Clifton Park from 2 pm to 5 pm for fresh produce and great finds. 

We are your stop to support locally grown and produced foods/items and we love all of our weekly visitors!

#cliftonparkfarmersmarket #cliftonparkny #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆 #supportlocallygrown #supportlocallyproduced
Here we are….it’s officially fall! Check out Here we are….it’s officially fall!  Check out this week’s recipe at our site and head over to grab the fresh products at the market to give it a try…

What’s happening at the market today? We have live entertainment as you wander, explore and discover …

Saratoga Farmers’ market 9 am to 1 pm

Pumpkin Painting 11 am to 1 pm

Saratoga Pumpkin Festival 11 am to 4 pm

https://www.saratogafarmersmarket.org/category/seasonal-recipes/

#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆 #pumpkinrecipesplease #fallishere🍁 #giantpumpkinfestival
Market days are some of the best days and we are h Market days are some of the best days and we are here for it from 9 AM to 1 PM this Saturday at High Rock Park.  This week is extra special as we celebrate the Pumpkin Fest. 

Here's the schedule:

9 am to 1 pm Saratoga Farmers' Market
11 am to 1 pm Pumpkin Painting
11 am to 4 pm Giant Pumpkin Festival

Learn more here: https://www.saratogafarmersmarket.org/celebrating-fall-at-the-8th-annual-pumpkinfest/

This is a collaborative effort with Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and @saratogacitycenter 

#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆 #shoplocalsaratoga #supportlocallygrown #supportlocallyproduced #saratogapumpkinfest #giantpumkinfestival
We are also hosting a children’s pumpkin paintin We are also hosting a children’s pumpkin painting event from 11 am to 1 pm for ( $8 donation). The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is a 501(c)3 and these small fundraisers help to support our free educational programming, intern program, emergency farm fund, etc 

Our activities are in conjunction with the Saratoga Pumpkin Festival this weekend - Saturday, September 23rd!

What’s happening?

Saratoga Farmers’ market 9 am to 1 pm

Saratoga Pumpkin Festival 11 am to 4 pm

This is a free family event that starts at the Saratoga City Center parking garage on High Rock Avenue and continues down to the Saratoga farmers Market.  This is a community collaboration with the Saratoga county chamber of commerce, Saratoga Springs city center and the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.

We look forward to seeing you Saturday!

#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆 #saratogapumpkinfest #saratogapumpkinfestival #giantpumpkinfestival #giantpumpkinfestival2023

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