Farmers Market Opens Saturday

RFH 2010, News

Thu, Apr 29, 2010

Saturday may be celebrated as May Day in many places, but in the Greater Hamilton Metroplex, it's the day the Farmers' Market opens on the village green.

Each Saturday from May through October, the village's business district more than doubles in size for about seven hours as the Farmers' Market opens on the village green.

That expansion begins for the first time Saturday as the market opens for the 2010 season from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It runs through the first weekend in November.

The length of time the marlet i open has been extended by two hours this year, until 3 p.m.

Robin Maciag works in village hall and has done much of the behind the scenes work to get ready for the market to open.

We asked several people for their impressions of the Farmers' Market.

Village Trustee Jim Bona is the board member who oversees the market:

"I would say that the farmer's market is just one of the many things that makes the village of Hamilton a great place to live ... and to also to come and sell (if you are a vendor) and to come and buy (if you are a consumer).

"What does it mean to the village? That is hard to say in specific terms, but it has to be one of the regular weekly events that add to the quality of life that we all love to experience living here in the village. For many people, it is a source of social interaction that ranks right up there with just about any other community activity. We enjoy seeing our neighbors and friends there, and we build relationships with the vendors who we visit regularly.

"As far as some concrete things that the market does:

"It gives local craftspeople and farmers/growers a great spot to sell their wares in a great setting...even if the weather sometimes doesn't cooperate.

"It gives local residents the chance to keep their business local by spending money that goes directly to a seller -- usually without any type of middleman -- and for the vendor to interact directly with the buyer and visa versa. It also gives people an opportunity to buy local products, knowing where they come from and who grew them and how they were grown

"And, it is a great way to show off what a great place the village and people of Hamilton are.

"My favorite thing? That would be very difficult to answer, as there are quite a few things at the market that I really like. Probably the food items most of all, since I like to cook and I obviously like to eat! Right up there would be the fried dough, although it takes great self-control not to buy it every time I walk by the stand, which is at least 10 times a Saturday.

Eve Ann Schwartz and her family sell their locally-grown, grass-finished, Black Angus beef at the market

We are really looking forward to the start of the 2010 Hamilton farmer's market. The market has always been a great place for Maple Ave Farms to connect with local customers who appreciate the taste and quality of our "Sun Fed Beef"- Black Angus, dry aged beef raised without hormones or antibiotics.

When (her husband) Harmon and I originally returned home to my family's farm in the mid 1980's we sold our beef at the Hamilton market for several years. Career changes and two young children kept us home for the next 15 years, but we returned to sell at the Hamilton market in 2006.

We sell at the farmer's market because it allows us to sell at retail prices which increase the profitability of our business. The market is also a wonderful place to see friends, discuss the "hot topic of the week" and buy delicious locally grown vegetables, home made jams and baked goods. I always buy my bedding plants at the market too.

Mayor Sue McVaugh lives a short walk down Broad Street from the Farmers' Market and is a frequent shopper.

Robin (Maciag in village hall) has done so much to make the market a success. She deals with all sorts of personalities, and manages to keep the business end of things in line. Fran, too, our monitor has been just wonderful. It's amazing what happens behind the scenes, and Fran makes sure that everything is set for the shoppers.

What do you think the Farmers' Market adds to the village? Vibrancy, a meeting place, great produce, crafts, etc. The feeling that Hamilton is the place to be, Hometown Pride, people from out of town coming here to go to the Farmers' Market and then shopping at other establishments too, "the best Market in CNY".

2. What do you personally like the most about the Farmer's Market? Being able to find anyone I want to see. What do I like least? Everyone being able to find me! Seriously, it has such a good feel to it. Now that we have a way for people to use food stamps, we really do cater to everyone.

3. What is your favorite item -- produce, craft item, food, baked goods -- to purchase at the market? Depends on the season - early on I buy plants (vegetables and flowers) for the garden. Then produce in the middle of the summer. I buy meat and fish. I personally don't buy baked goods, because I like to bake and I shouldn't eat that much anyway. If I need a gift for someone, I'll often find something - maybe pottery or maple syrup.