As warmer weather settles in, farmers markets are starting to set up shop around the region. Each offers something a little different but they all have one thing in common: fresh, local food.
Opening day for the CDPHP Farmers’ Market was sunny and warm as vendors welcomed the public on Thursday, May 24, at 500 Patroon Creek Boulevard in Albany. This is the market’s fifth year and with seven new vendors added to the lineup, it’s also its largest yet.
“It’s one of the most sought after markets in the Capital Region according to the Department of Agriculture and Markets,” said Ali Skinner, spokesperson for CDPHP.
Skinner said one of the reasons for the market’s popularity is that there’s “something for everybody,” from fresh produce to baked goods to handmade bath products and jewelry.
“We try to mix it up,” said Skinner. “As a community-based health plan, we serve a very diverse crowd, so we try to do the same thing at our farmers’ market.”
New this year is Allan Ditton Pottery (handmade pottery), Bakeforu (cookies, scones and cupcakes), Dutch Desserts (European-style fruit tarts), Honeybee Farm (cheeses, eggs, garlic, honey and hummus), Ali Hermann Artwork & Jewelry (handmade pieces) and Scarecrow Farm (wool, yarn, honey, eggs and assorted vegetables).
Various returning vendors will have jams, herbs, nuts and plenty of fruits and veggies to choose from. Skinner said there will be gluten-free products available, too.
Farmer Chris Webb said he’s looking forward to returning to “one of the friendliest markets” he attends. But less than a year ago, his priorities were far from selecting crops to take to market.
“When you have a bad year, you have a bad year. You’re going to get behind on a lot of stuff,” said Webb, owner of Gold Krest in East Greenbush.
Webb had a really bad year. Tropical Storm Irene destroyed $360,000 worth of crops and farm equipment when it blew through and buried his farm under 10 feet of water. Webb said he still hasn’t fully rebuilt.
“We’re in a tough stage right now,” said Webb. “I did have some insurance but it only paid about 8 cents on a dollar.”
Still, Webb said this year’s crops are doing well. His first day at the market will be Thursday, June 7, and the offerings will vary throughout the summer.
“I’ll have strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, summer squash, winter squash, eggplant, zucchini, cucumber,” said Webb.
He’ll also have flowers and hanging baskets and when it gets closer to the market’s closing day of Oct. 4, Webb will have pumpkins and gourds.
The CDPHP Farmers’ Market is open Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Over in Menands, the Capital District Farmers Market at 381 Broadway has been going strong since its traditional opening on the first Saturday of May (this year it was May 5).
“It’s been really good. We’ve done 400 to 500 cars each week,” said spokesperson Erin Landers.
The retail market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the wholesale market that sells in bulk directly to retailers, local restaurants or other consumers runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.
Regular wholesalers include A.J. Rinella, Black Horse Produce, D. Brickman, Decker’s Produce, Pray’s Farmers Market and others. The retail market has a more diverse array of items, from fresh produce to prepared goods.
“We try to get a little bit of everything,” said Landers. “Our farmers are a given but we have a jewelry person, try to have a wine person, meat and cheese.”
New this year is a vendor offering vegan products and Amici Vineyard, located in southern Washington County.
The Capital District Farmers’ Market is also known for its special events. It kicked off with a community garage sale May 5 and the next one on June 23 will be Battle of the Berries, followed by Corny Day on July 28, Spotlight Newspapers’ Family Day on Aug. 11, Tomatoes by the Thousand on Aug. 18, Fall Harvest on Sept. 15 and Days of the Jack-O-Lantern on Oct. 13.
The Cohoes Farmers Market will celebrate its sixth season and the arrival of June when it opens Friday, June 1, in the large municipal lot on Remsen Street in downtown Cohoes, directly across from Harmony House Marketplace.
Market goers can expect fresh fruits and vegetables, bedding plants, cheese, baked goods, eggs, soaps and lotions, ready-to-eat items like perogies and golumpki and local artists. Songwriter and guitarist Frank Lessard will entertain visitors on opening day.
The Cohoes market is open from 4 to 7 p.m. every Friday, rain or shine, and runs until Oct. 5. Free parking is available.
The farmers’ market at The Crossings in Colonie is more than just an outdoor shopping center. Since 2009, it has raised more than $40,000 to fund improvements at the park. This year’s market opens Saturday, June 2, at 9 a.m.
“Not only has the farmers’ market become a very popular Saturday gathering place, it has helped the town make necessary repairs and improvements to the park, with a special focus on the playground,” said Supervisor Paula Mahan.
This year’s market has some new vendors to mix up the local offerings. Alongside the fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, eggs, cheese, dairy products and breads that have become popular, there will be Mediterranean prepared foods from Euro-Delicacies, Freddie’s Rockin’ Hummus, sweet and salty popcorn from Fast Trax kettle corn, grass-fed angus beef and free-range roaster chickens from Longlesson Farms, fresh and frozen seafood from The Original Two Cousins Fish Market and spices, herbs and olive oils from Just-A-Thought.
“True to our mission, we continue to emphasize farmers as vendors,” said Mahan. “But we also wanted to make the market a more complete stop for shoppers, offering a wider range of choices from appetizers to dessert.”
Friends of the William K. Sanford Library will be on hand selling used book at the Book Nook.
The market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until Sept. 29.
