Good growing times for farm markets

The local-food movement and increased fuel costs could boost farm market sales this season.

Steve Ferlauto shaves away some wood while working on an oar on Sunday at the Beacon Farmers Market. Steve Ferlauto shaves away some wood while working on an oar on Sunday at the Beacon Farmers Market. (Jason Lenhart photos/For the Poughkeepsie Journal)

That's good news for the many local farmers who rely on the direct sales outlet to keep their agribusinesses profitable. More sales could also mean more variety for consumers as market organizers expand the number of vendors, products and activities.

"At first, people who live in Beacon and the surrounding area were hard to lure to the market," said Simone Williams, organizer of the year-round Beacon Farmers Market at the train station. "We're finally seeing people who would have gone to Hannaford come here because our prices are competitive, our produce is fresh and many of our products are hard to get."

Farmers markets held in Dutchess and Ulster towns typically run from early June to late October in conjunction with the growing season for fruits and vegetables. They function similarly to farm stands, but feature several growers at one venue in order to offer a wide variety of produce and products.

Farmers markets have continued to rise in popularity since the mid-1990s, mostly due to the growing consumer interest in obtaining fresh products directly from the farm, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The department's farmers market directory listed 4,385 farmers markets operating in the United States in 2006, representing an 18 percent increase from 2004.

In 2004, more than 1,700 farmers participated in New York state's 320-plus farmers markets, according to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. As of 2007, there were 391 markets. There are no county-level numbers for these markets available, department spokeswoman Holly Marchand said.

Locally, farmers markets have added hot food from local vendors and music along with a wide range of plants, vegetables, meats, breads and pastries. Some markets also have added hours or new days.

In response to consumer demand, Rhinebeck has added a Thursday farmers market to its regular Sunday event. Ray Tousey, president of the Rhinebeck market board of directors, believes the extra day will be a blessing to farmers and the local economy.

Rosendale Farmers Market has added new entertainment, grass-fed beef producers (Veritas Farms) and Italian specialty products to its market this year. The market's four organizers also are applying to be a nonprofit organization.

"We did a test run in fall of 2006 for four Sundays without advertisement," said Billy Liggan, a Rosendale market organizer. "About 125 people showed up the last day. People were getting used to it."

Last year, the market's busiest day had 300 people, he said.

"It builds community, people meet their neighbors, but the biggest thing is keeping farmers planting so they don't have to put in houses."

Markets are an important source of revenue for the agriculture community. In 2000, about 19,000 farmers participated in farmers markets nationwide, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported.

Dennis Remsburger, of Remsburger Maple Farm & Apiary in Pleasant Valley, is a vendor at six farmers markets each week, including two markets in one day. Sharon Wilklow of Wilklow Orchards in Highland is a vendor at three local markets: Arlington, Highland and Pleasant Valley. Her husband Fred Wilklow and their children also sell at farmers markets in New York City.

Town of Poughkeepsie resident Paula Marcotte said she's looking forward to this season's markets.

"We're lucky to live in a place that has corn, peas, tomatoes - all kinds of produce," the mother of two said. "I'm going to check out grass-fed meats, because I really worry about the hormones. I buy a lot of organic milk and fresh fruit like strawberries, raspberries and apples. The kids seem to like it more when they are picked fresh rather than all mushy in a can."

She added she can get tips from the farmers regarding her own garden.

Bob Raisch, organizer of the Arlington Farmers Market, said it was launched after local residents listed it as a major priority on a community survey. Raisch, who is also executive director of the Arlington Business Improvement District, said the 10-year-old market was seen as an economic stimulus for the Town of Poughkeepsie.

"These folks (vendors) at the farmers market would not stay with us for 10 years if we didn't bring people to the market," he said. "They (customers) are passing by and stopping at the other shops along the way," he said.

One Arlington bookstore owner is grateful for the market.

"My impression over the years is that on Thursday, it seemed to me there were more people in the area," said Walter Effron, the second-generation owner of Three Arts on Collegeview Avenue. "I saw people I knew as customers in my store and would see them at the farmers market."

This year, the market site will move to the south end of Vassar College's Alumnae House lawn due to Raymond Avenue construction projects.

"I appreciate the market being here, as a business owner and a (market) customer," Effron said.

She had reasons

The Hyde Park market, held at the town drive-in theater, got a similar start. Hyde Park florist owner and chamber member Dot Chenevert helped organize a committee and rally support. She had a personal desire to buy local foods, she said.

"People are thinking in terms of local, good, organic foods and with the gas crunch this year, the market popularity will be even better," Chenevert of Green Oak Florist said.

Another benefit of farmers markets is that more than 80 percent are able to make enough income to pay for operation costs, according to the USDA.

For several years, foot traffic at the Millbrook Farmers Market has remained steady, co-organizer Leslie Tumblety said. The market has been around since the early 1990s, she added.

"It's more of a challenge now because pretty much every village has its own market, but that's been offset by the awareness of shopping at a farmers market, eating choices and the desire to preserve open space," Tumblety said.

Her goal for the market on Front Street and Franklin Avenue is for it to be a gathering place.

"We try to get the community involved by letting organizations have a presence at the market, and with live music and business sponsors," she said. "We do have a great group of vendors who are very good at creating a warm, inviting atmosphere."

Bart Colucci, organizer of the New Paltz Farmers Market, said shoppers are drawn to the selection and the social aspect of members of the community getting together.

"People meet up with friends. It's a big event," Colucci said.

In its ninth season, the Kingston Farmers Market attracts more than 1,800 visitors each week. This year, special events will include chef demonstrations, plant giveaways, healthy eating tips, gardening advice and tastings.

Markets benefit the community in other ways, too. The USDA reported that about 25 percent of U.S. farmers markets participate in programs aiding food recovery organizations in the distribution of food to needy families. More than half participate in coupon, food stamps, local and/or state nutrition programs.

The City of Poughkeepsie Farmers Market is launching a new food stamp incentive this season. When a customer purchases a minimum of $5 in food stamp tokens to use at the market, they will be given a $5 coupon redeemable at farmers markets. The coupon is called a NY Fresh Check.

The City of Poughkeepsie market was taken over by the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, a nonprofit, in 2004. The project's executive director, Susan Grove, is hoping to expand the Mural Park, Main Street event. This year, there will be three additional vendors offering meats, eggs and flowers.

"A good market has the right mix of vendors and customers," Grove said. "People who work and live in the city come from all diversities. They have to be interested in what the vendors are selling."

Marcotte said she's going to stick with locally grown foods whenever possible.

"It takes a lot less energy for local goods to get to the market than goods from Peru to get to the supermarket," she said. "I think we're really screwing up the environment."