Saratoga Farmers Market Announces "Buy Local" Celebration!

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (07/17/2008)(readMedia)--

On Saturday July 19, the Saratoga Farmers Market will celebrate eating and buying locally grown food. The market's 50 vendors will be highlighting the value and importance of supporting local producers of the food we eat every day.

"When you shop at the Farmers Market you can talk to and get to know the farmer who has grown your food. Whether it is organic salad greens or raspberries or delicious artisan cheese, wine or bread, you can know the person who is responsible for the food you are bringing to your table. When you shop at a supermarket, you do not know who raised the beef, chicken or pork or gathered the eggs or milked the cows or goats. Supermarket shoppers do not know who their farmer is. But when you buy local at the Farmers Market you know your food was grown at a local farm and is safe, fresh and delicious" said Liza Porter of Homestead Artisan Enterprises and President of the Saratoga Farmers Market Association.

"Innovative Resources, a Saratoga Springs creative services and development firm, designed stickers for us to wear and give to market customers on a first-come first-served basis proudly displaying our Farmers Market logo and asking: Who's YOUR farmer? Farmers Market customers tell us that knowing where their food comes from is important to them and helps them have an even smaller carbon footprint," Porter added.

At the Buy Local celebration, Chefs Rocco Verrigni of the Mouzon House and Dave Britton from the Beekman Street Bistro will be preparing delicious samples for market shoppers. Stop by to see and taste how they use local produce from the market. Throughout the market farmers will offer samples of market products, local food recipes, and information on buying and eating local.

"Most food in the supermarket travels thousands of miles to get to your table. When you shop at the Saratoga Farmers Market all the food was produced within 50 miles of Saratoga and is fresher and better for you and for our environment since it takes much less energy to transport your food to your home" according to Jeff Bowers, of Sweet Spring Farm, Farmers Market Promotions Committee.

Bowers said that this Saturday market shoppers can also participate in a Trivia Contest: Know Your Farmer and win market gift certificates or environmentally-friendly tote bags with the Farmers Market logo.

"The Saratoga Farmers Market is a local producer only market. Unlike other markets, everything sold at the Saratoga Farmers Market is produced locally in Saratoga, Schenectady, Rennselaer, or Washington Counties ensuring that products are fresh and supportive of local farmers and bakers," Bowers said. "Market products include vegetables, fruits, spreads, honey, baked goods, peanut butter, meat, cheese, wine, flowers, plants, jams and preserves. Many of the products are Certified Naturally Grown and Organic."

For more information about the Buy Local Celebration contact Beth Hershenhart at 584-7206.