Grand Opening of Central Avenue Farmer's Market: Where the City Meets the Country and Becomes Community

ALBANY, NY (06/10/2009)(readMedia)-- Come celebrate the Grand Opening festivities of Albany's own Central Avenue Farmer's Market on Saturday June 13 from 9am-1pm. This marks the official grand opening of the market with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and many special treats for the public.

The market has invited several special guests to the celebration, including Assemblyman Jack McEneny, Mayor Jerry Jennings, Alan Chartock, CEO and President of WAMC Northeast Public Radio, and Anthony Capece, Executive Director for the Central Business Improvement District.

The ribbon cutting itself will take place at 10am at the market entrance on Central with a few brief words from some of our guests. After the ribbon-cutting, The Linda, WAMC's Performing Arts Studio, which is a part of the Farmer's Market location, will present live music from Uncle Rock, the nationally-recognized "Rock of All Ages", who created a sound that combines Beatles with Woody Guthrie, and offers a range of hip favorites that both children and adults will enjoy. And, we'll also offer a cooking demonstration from Tamara Flanders, Holistic Health Counselor for Your Body Awake, a holistic health practice centered in Saratoga County.

Children can take part in the Kids' Ecology 'Adopt a Goat' program and meet and adopt a goat to care for. Vendor Suzann Kipp, owner of Kipp Hill Farm in Sloansville, will take the children through a typical day at her farm and then she will teach the kids how to care for and milk the goats, and how to make cheese. This is a fantastic opportunity because some of the children who attend the market have never even seen a live goat or farm animal.

The market will have a special strawberry-centered tastings all day long from our vendors including strawberry fudge, strawberry shortcake, strawberry smoothies, and strawberry salad celebrating the "Strawberry Moon." According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, this month's full moon was dubbed the strawberry full moon by the Algonquin tribes who recognized June as prime strawberry picking season. At noon, we'll have a free hamburgers and hotdogs courtesy of Shea's Restaurant. And, we'll be giving away free red shopping totes, coupon books, and gift certificates from Carmine's Restaurant, Salsa Latina and Mildred Elley.

All summer, the parking lot next to 'The Linda' ,located at 339 Central Avenue, is transformed into the Central Avenue Farmers' Market. Every Saturday from 9am to 1pm, neighbors from the surrounding communities of West Hill, Sheridan Square, Washington Park, Washington Square, and Center Square can gather together at the new market and get the very best in homegrown fruits, vegetables and other goods from local farms. Many special thanks to all the market's supporters including the Central Business Improvement District, WAMC-Northeast Public Radio, the Albany Parking Authority, CDTA, and the City of Albany. Beginning June 20, the market will also accept EBT and WIC so that everyone has the chance to share fresh fruit and produce with their families.

Don't miss this special day at the Central Avenue Farmers' Market, where it's always a fresh experience. For more information about the day's events or the market, please contact Market Manager Molly Belmont 518-462-4300.

Central Avenue Farmers' Market-Growing Our Community