What's a summer barbecue without fresh corn on the cob? Farmers markets around the area provide people with just that and more - everything from fruits and vegetables to fresh flowers.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Helen Gitelson, on vacation from New York City, purchases greens from Bob Horsford, of Horsford Farms in Weedsport, at the Auburn Farmers Market.
Helen Gitelson, on vacation from New York City, purchases greens from Bob Horsford, of Horsford Farms in Weedsport, at the Auburn Farmers Market.
Farmers markets have been increasing in popularity recently. According to Kathleen Frick, manager of the Moravia Farmers Market, “So many more people keep asking questions this year. They want to know when we are opening and they also want to know information about how to start their own gardens.”
Consumers have been making the shift to support local farmers not only to buy local products, but to enjoy fresh food. Frick compared the choices consumers make: “You can buy strawberries from California that are picked early and then ripen on trucks driving across the country, but people are now having Finger Lakes strawberries and seeing the difference.”
In addition to helping local farmers, these markets provide a way to get fresh produce at good prices. Perhaps more importantly, in some cases you find yourself face-to-face with the person who grew the produce. Diane Burdick, a director of the Skaneateles Farmers Market, cited the human element as one of the most important parts of the markets.
“The food you get is fresh and local, and you know your producer.”
The freshness of the food is yet another benefit to the markets. Instead of getting a head of lettuce that was picked and shipped from across the country, you buy produce that was picked within a few miles that morning.
“It's very important to get fresh produce,” Burdick explained. “If it's not vine-ripened or picked fresh, the flavor just isn't there.”
The Skaneateles Farmers Market has been underway since May, and visitors don't have to worry about not finding fresh produce this soon.
“Despite the early season, several of the vendors already offer lettuce and other vegetables, and plan to start selling tomatoes within the next couple weeks,” Burdick said.
These vendors have hoop houses, which Burdick describes as “Greenhouses, but without heat.”
That allows farmers to plant vegetables as early as February, allowing them to be ripe and ready for May.
The Skaneateles Farmers Market features more than 20 vendors, among them two local wineries; Weedsport's Giancarelli Farm and Winery, and the Pheasant Ridge Winery out of Jamesville.
“There isn't any real competition between the wineries, Giancarelli's makes fruit wines and Pheasant Ridge makes grape wines.” Burdick explained.
The differences shown in the wineries is mirrored by the other vendors.
“We have a lot of different things to offer, from cheeses to breads,” Burdick said.
Residents of southern Cayuga County don't have to worry about driving more than half an hour just to visit a farmers market. The Moravia Farmers Market runs every Thursday through Oct. 29.
The Moravia market is experiencing rising popularity, and residents and producers alike can't wait for the market to open.
“People are just getting really hyped up about local food,” Frick said. “I have a friend in the Amish community with two greenhouses,
and he can't keep his produce in stock. It just flies out of his stand every weekend he's open.“
The market provides a central location for local producers to sell, and for consumers to buy. Even with a broad selection of goods, from produce to wine, Frick urged new producers to visit the market.
“If you have a little bit of leftover produce from the summer and you bring it here to sell,” Frick said, “just the little bit you bring will more than pay off your costs.”
If you go
What: Auburn Farmers Market
When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through October
Where: East Genesee Street between South Street and Loop Road, Auburn
To learn more: Call 678-1622
What: Locke Farmers Market
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays from mid-July to mid-October
Where: Locke Volunteer Fire Department grounds, Route 38, Locke
To learn more: Call 497-0595
What: Moravia Farmers Market
When: Noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through October (market closes at 5 p.m. in October)
Where: Kinney Drug Store parking lot, Main Street, Moravia
To learn more: Call 497-8375
What: Seneca Falls Farmers Market
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays through October
Where: People's Park, canalside near the Seneca Falls Community Center, Seneca Falls
To learn more: Call 539-9251
What: Skaneateles Farmers Market
When: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Skaneateles Community Center, 97 State St., Skaneateles
To learn more: Call 558-9474
What: Sterling Farmers Market
When: Noon to 2 p.m. Sundays through fall
Where: Sterling Nature Center
To learn more: Call 947-6143
Consumers have been making the shift to support local farmers not only to buy local products, but to enjoy fresh food. Frick compared the choices consumers make: “You can buy strawberries from California that are picked early and then ripen on trucks driving across the country, but people are now having Finger Lakes strawberries and seeing the difference.”
In addition to helping local farmers, these markets provide a way to get fresh produce at good prices. Perhaps more importantly, in some cases you find yourself face-to-face with the person who grew the produce. Diane Burdick, a director of the Skaneateles Farmers Market, cited the human element as one of the most important parts of the markets.
“The food you get is fresh and local, and you know your producer.”
The freshness of the food is yet another benefit to the markets. Instead of getting a head of lettuce that was picked and shipped from across the country, you buy produce that was picked within a few miles that morning.
“It's very important to get fresh produce,” Burdick explained. “If it's not vine-ripened or picked fresh, the flavor just isn't there.”
The Skaneateles Farmers Market has been underway since May, and visitors don't have to worry about not finding fresh produce this soon.
“Despite the early season, several of the vendors already offer lettuce and other vegetables, and plan to start selling tomatoes within the next couple weeks,” Burdick said.
These vendors have hoop houses, which Burdick describes as “Greenhouses, but without heat.”
That allows farmers to plant vegetables as early as February, allowing them to be ripe and ready for May.
The Skaneateles Farmers Market features more than 20 vendors, among them two local wineries; Weedsport's Giancarelli Farm and Winery, and the Pheasant Ridge Winery out of Jamesville.
“There isn't any real competition between the wineries, Giancarelli's makes fruit wines and Pheasant Ridge makes grape wines.” Burdick explained.
The differences shown in the wineries is mirrored by the other vendors.
“We have a lot of different things to offer, from cheeses to breads,” Burdick said.
Residents of southern Cayuga County don't have to worry about driving more than half an hour just to visit a farmers market. The Moravia Farmers Market runs every Thursday through Oct. 29.
The Moravia market is experiencing rising popularity, and residents and producers alike can't wait for the market to open.
“People are just getting really hyped up about local food,” Frick said. “I have a friend in the Amish community with two greenhouses,
and he can't keep his produce in stock. It just flies out of his stand every weekend he's open.“
The market provides a central location for local producers to sell, and for consumers to buy. Even with a broad selection of goods, from produce to wine, Frick urged new producers to visit the market.
“If you have a little bit of leftover produce from the summer and you bring it here to sell,” Frick said, “just the little bit you bring will more than pay off your costs.”
If you go
What: Auburn Farmers Market
When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through October
Where: East Genesee Street between South Street and Loop Road, Auburn
To learn more: Call 678-1622
What: Locke Farmers Market
When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays from mid-July to mid-October
Where: Locke Volunteer Fire Department grounds, Route 38, Locke
To learn more: Call 497-0595
What: Moravia Farmers Market
When: Noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through October (market closes at 5 p.m. in October)
Where: Kinney Drug Store parking lot, Main Street, Moravia
To learn more: Call 497-8375
What: Seneca Falls Farmers Market
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays through October
Where: People's Park, canalside near the Seneca Falls Community Center, Seneca Falls
To learn more: Call 539-9251
What: Skaneateles Farmers Market
When: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Skaneateles Community Center, 97 State St., Skaneateles
To learn more: Call 558-9474
What: Sterling Farmers Market
When: Noon to 2 p.m. Sundays through fall
Where: Sterling Nature Center
To learn more: Call 947-6143
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