COOPERSTOWN FARMERS’ MARKET TO CELEBRATE 35 YEARS

New York State Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets Richard Ball to attend

[Cooperstown, NY] The Cooperstown Farmers’ Market will celebrate its 35th year on Saturday, August 15. During the Market day, which runs from 9 am to 2 pm, there will be 33 local farmers and vendors, two sets of live music, kids’ activities to celebrate Honeybee Day, and a Market Bingo raffle. At 11 am, there will be a brief program featuring New York State Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets Richard Ball; Meg Kennedy, owner of ARK Floral, which was a founding vendor of the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market; and Jim Dalton and Ellen Pope of Otsego 2000, which founded the Market in 1991. Kennedy also serves as Vice Chair of the Otsego County Board of Representatives. Following the speeches, there will be complimentary sweets made by Market vendors, including Biscuitwood Farm, a new Summer Tuesday Market vendor, and Nectar Hills Farm, a year-round Saturday vendor.

“Come hangout with your friends and neighbors to celebrate 35 years of the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market,” said Madeleine Zenir, farmers’ market manager at Otsego 2000. “It’s August and your local farmers have been working all year for harvest season.”

Otsego 2000 founded the Market in 1991 to offer local growers and producers a direct outlet to residents and visitors, to make local produce readily available, and to bring local customers to Main Street. All market products are grown, raised, or made by the vendors within 50 miles of Cooperstown. Thanks to the generosity of the Scriven Foundation, which owns the 101 Main Streetbuilding, the Market enjoys an indoor space, which is heated in the winter, right in the middle of downtown.

“We are proud of the Market’s history and its growth over the years and look forward to a bright future as more and more people learn and appreciate the value of sourcing their food locally,” said Ellen Pope, executive director of Otsego 2000. “We are delighted to have Commissioner Richard Ball here to help us celebrate 35 years of supporting local farmers and makers, and the Market’s role in the community.” She added that Otsego 2000 and the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market have benefited from a Farmers’ Market Resiliency grant from New York State. Upgrades to the Market facility made possible by the grant include a 100-foot indoor mural, customer seating, and lighting, as well as enhanced outreach and advertising. “Of note is our outreach to customers who shop with SNAP,” said Pope. “A $20 SNAP spend results in $60 worth of local food, thanks to matches from the Cooperstown Lions Club and Field and Fork Network’s Double Up Food Bucks. this helps our neighbors get access to fresh local food, and helps local farmers get more business, a win-win.” The Cooperstown Lions Club will have a table at the Market with information on the SNAP Match program, and how people can support it.

Miss Jen, also known as Jennifer Armstrong, Otsego 2000’s Manager of Finance and Operations, will have activities to celebrate National Honeybee Day. Kids can make honeybee headbands, learn about the life cycle of bees, taste honey, and plant a pollinator friendly flower to take home. “I love coming up with the ideas for kids’ crafts at the market, all inspired by my own daughter. It is wonderful to watch kids discover the market through a simple craft or activity,” said Armstrong. “It gives them the opportunity to learn where their food comes from, meet the farmers who grow it, and understand the importance of supporting local farms and eating fresh healthy food.”  She also noted that customers who complete a Market Bingo card will be entered to win a $100 Farmers’ Market gift certificate.

The 33 vendors featured at the Market on August 15include: Amma Seema Curry, Andy’s Edible Garden, Arabeth Farm, ARK Floral, Art Farm Flowers, Baskets by Susan Dee, Black Willow Pond Farm, Chatty Wren Coffee Roasters, Chloe’s Bake Shop, Crystal’s Customs, Empire Natural Foods, Gaia’s Breath Farm, Healing Crystals, Heller’s Farm, Italian Cookie Home, King’s Rustic, L’ouvrière Candle Studio, Middlefield Orchard, Mill Hollow Maple, Mimikis Fibers, Mountain View Dairy, Nectar Hills Farm, Pail Shop Vineyards, Painted Goat Farm, RevSpirits, Rock Hill Farm, Skin Biome, Straight from the Hive Tech Tamer Woodworks, Terracotta Republic, Traveling Herb Farm, Weinert’s Elk Creek Farm, and Uncommon Kin Cidery.  The full Market includes 48 farmers and vendors.

“Some vendors come to every Market, others are featured at the Summer Tuesday Market, and some come once a month or seasonally, so you can always find what you’re looking for at the Market and there is always something new,” said Pope.

Located at 101 Main Street in Pioneer Alley, the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays throughout the year. Saturday hours are 9 am – 2 pm, May through December, and 10 am – 2pm January through April. In addition, during July, August, and September, the Market is open on Tuesdays from 12 pm – 4 pm.  SNAP is welcome at every Market. With the support of the Cooperstown Lions Club and Field and Fork Network, the Market offers two matches, so a $20 SNAP spend results in $60 worth of local food. For more information on the Market, go to www.cooperstownfarmersmarket.org.

About Otsego 2000

Otsego 2000 is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1981 to ensure the Otsego Lake region remains a masterpiece of nature by protecting and supporting its environmental, scenic, cultural, historic, and agricultural resources and its economic well-being. Otsego 2000 accomplishes its mission through programs like the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Otsego Outdoors, Glimmerglass Film Days, historic preservation initiatives, and environmental stewardship.