Farmers’ Market provides locally grown food
By Bruce Watson |
| | Local farmer Paul Hugick holds up a bunch of Swiss Chard at his booth at the Richfield Springs Farmers’ Market Saturday, July 26. The Farmers’ Market is looking to expand and welcomes vendors selling any number of crafts, home produced items, and home grown foods and ever-lastings. Hugick sold 50 pints of blueberries last week and said the market offers produce that is grown locally. (Photo by Bruce Watson) | |
Paul and Ronnie Hugick actively farmed and milked cows in the town of Columbia for 59 years and after retiring, the Hugicks are now among the vendors who sell fresh produce, flowers, herbs, jams, jellies and a variety of other homemade and home produced goods at the Richfield Springs Farmers’ Market in Spring Park, held Thursdays from 2-6 p.m. and Saturdays until 1 p.m. The Hugicks have been participating in the Farmers’ Market for three years. This past week, they sold 50 pints of blueberries along with honey, maple syrup, Swiss chard, beets and carrots. They said squash, tomatoes, beans, sweet corn, cucumbers and acorn squash are in their home garden and will be at the Farmers’ Market when ready to be picked. “Every time you eat from your garden or buy directly from a local farmer, you are helping to reshape the future of agriculture, the economy and the environment,” Dawn Brighid said in the August 2008 Organic Gardening magazine. Farmers’ Markets are just now beginning to show up more in larger cities, which further demonstrates what many of us already knew: buying from local growers assures the consumer that the products they are buying are grown locally and have not been shipped from half way across the country or from another country. With the current trends in diet, nutrition, eating more fruits and vegetables, and the effort to know exactly what is in the food we eat, local Farmers’ Markets tend to help cut to the chase and eliminate the time it takes to get from farm to your kitchen. The produce is not wax coated, most is organically grown and pesticide free. Farmers’ Markets are not only great places to obtain produce but one can also find herbs, fresh flowers, baked goods, jams, jellies, preserves, and assorted craft items. The Richfield Springs Farmers’ Market is an all volunteer effort. New vendors are always welcome and don’t have to sell farm related goods. If you’re a baker, woodworker, beekeeper, dried flower arranger, or quilter, why not give Spring Park a try? The cost for setting up a spot is $5 for one day or $25 for the season, which runs through the end of October. All the money realized from vendor spaces is turned back for advertising and efforts to get the word out about the Richfield Springs Farmers’ Market. A Farmers’ Market is a great place to obtain growing tips from vendors and meet local people. One never knows what will be available or who will be selling each week. For further information, contact Ron Bayzon, 315-858-2703, or visit with him in person during the Farmers’ Market. Bruce Watson is a resident of Richfield Springs.
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