Ever tasted an apple picked right off the tree? Or fresh sunflower sprouts or maple syrup newly made? Locally grown, fresh
foods in New York simply taste better. Just stop by any of the many farmers markets you'll find in the state. With food-lovers literally going back to the roots, farmers in New York are responding to the demand for locally grown and organic foods. Statewide, there are now about 1,000 farmers selling fresh fruits, vegetables, and locally made goods at more than 300 farmers markets.
Some of the largest and most historic markets are in central New York.
Central New York Regional Farmers Market in downtown
Syracuse is one of the oldest and also largest in the state. Its 54-acre site serves over 300 farmer-growers, with some vendors having sold there for more than 70 years. The
Public Market in
Rochester, with over 300 stalls, has been operating for over 100 years. Farmers and local craftsmen have gathered there to sell fresh foods, ethnic delicacies, and
Finger Lakes specialty items.
Buffalo's
Elmwood Bidwell Market has been called one of the best in western New York by area press. You'll find such goods as smokehouse sausages, honey from local apiaries, regional
wines and traditional dairy products.
Stop by the
Lake Placid Market in
the Adirondacks. Vendors there sell anything from organic cheeses to maple syrup from a local sugarworks. In the Catskills,
Sullivan Country Farmers Markets has four locations. You'll be able to buy local products like wild mushrooms, organic sausage, heirloom tomatoes and preserves made from fresh berries.
Rhinebeck Farmers Market organizes special cooking demonstrations to showcase local products. Also in the
Hudson Valley, the year-round
Beacon Farmers Market is held on a ferry dock and often features live music and entertainment.
Even
New York City has its own farmers markets, with upstate farmers bringing in fresh-picked produce. The
Union Square Greenmarket is the largest and most famous in the city. Don't be surprised to find your favorite celebrity chef shopping for ingredients there.
Be sure to check with each market for schedules and hours.