Area Businesses Supporting Farmers Market in Menands

The Capital District Farmers Market in Menands is celebrating their 75^th anniversary this year, and for the first time they are getting financial support from businesses outside the market. Their Saturday retail market, where the general public is able to buy directly from farmers and other vendors, has two companies sponsoring trophies for their August 16 Car Show and Chicken Barbeque, and others have come on board to support a Healthy Eating Day on September 6.

"We're trying to make the Saturday retail market self supporting", said Fred Cole, General Manager of the market, "but the farmers who own the co-op can only afford to pay so much for the space they need". The logical thing to do was to see if businesses doing business with farmers and others participating in events would help out by sponsoring something.

NAPA Auto Parts and Michael Attanasio Insurance are sponsoring trophies for the Car Show and Chicken Barbeque on August 16. NAPA sells parts for cars, and Attanasio insures cars. This is the second year that the market has held a car show in conjunction with the regular Saturday market and this year, because of the business support, they're able to provide more trophies for show cars.

The Healthy Eating Day, a new event for the market this year being held on September 6, is being sponsored by Farm Family Insurance, the New York Farm Bureau, and Burke and Miller, a Farm Family agent. All three sponsors work closely with farmers all year long. Their sponsorship will allow the market to generate additional traffic by advertising. The event is being billed as a chance to meet the farmers who grow your food and will have the freshest local fruits and vegetables available.

The Saturday farmers market in Menands is open to the public every Saturday from 8 AM to 1 PM. When there are special events the market stays open until 2.

The 25 acre Farmers Market in Menands is also the permanent home for many wholesalers, processors, and distributors, many buying some of their products from local farmers.

In addition, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, starting at 5:30, from the beginning of May to the end of October, as many as 70 farmers gather on the market square to sell their flowers and produce to each other and area businesses.

The Capital District Farmers Market in Menands was founded in 1933 as the Capital District Cooperative, Inc. 570 farmers joined together to buy the Menands property as a place where they could sell their produce. Today, the market is still owned by 150 farmers who continue to use the facility to market their products.