Happy August everyone! The summer is flying by fast so take advantage of the fresh and local harvest by celebrating the 15th Annual National Farmers Market Week next week, 8/3-8/9! Declared by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, National Farmers Market week recognizes “our nation’s thousands of farmers markets, the farmers who make them possible, and the communities that host them.”
The Rochester Public Market is Rochester’s largest and most popular farmers market and even won the America’s Favorite Farmers Market contest in 2010. The Market has been around for over a century and offers shoppers an assortment of fresh produce from over 100 vendors every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday! The Market also hosts several special events such as Food Truck Rodeo, Bands on the Bricks, and the Flour City Brewer’s Fest.
If you can’t make it to the Public Market, have no fear-there is a farmers market close to the UofR almost every day of the week! On Tuesdays from 4-7:30pm, several vendors including the Seedfolk store and Smugtown Mushrooms set up at the Westside Farmers Market across the river on 831 Gennesee St. On Wednesdays, our own Med Center hosts the URMC Farmers Market from 3-6pm in the Strong Hospital Atrium. On Thursdays from 4-7pm, Napa wood-fired Pizzeria, Le Petit Poutine, Buzz’s Garden, Small World Food, and many more set up at the Southwedge Farmers’ Market on the corner of S. Clinton and Alexander St. (behind Boulder Coffee).
Buying from farmers markets is a greener alternative as the produce you buy has a lower carbon footprint- local foods require less transportation- and doesn’t need as much packaging. It is also a tastier option since fresh produce has more nutrients. So forget about Wegman’s for the week and celebrate National Farmers Market Week by exploring all of the many markets and indulging in the delicious fresh and local food that Rochester has to offer!!
Sunday: Brighton Farmers Market 9am-1pm, 1150 Winton Rd. S
Tuesday: Pittsford Farmers Market 9am-1pm, 3400 Monroe Ave
Public Market 6am-1pm, 280 N Union St
Westside Farmers Market 4pm-7:30pm, 831 Gennesee St
Wednesday: URMC Farmers Market 3pm-6pm, Strong Memorial Hospital Atrium
Foodlink 11am-2pm, Washington Square Park
Thursday: Public Market 6am-1pm, 280 N Union St
Southwedge Market 4pm-7pm, 100 Alexander St.
Friday: Genessee Valley Farmers Market 11am-5pm, 900 Jefferson Rd, Henrietta
Saturday: Public Market 6am-1pm, 280 N Union St
Fairport Farmers Market 7am-12pm, 58 S. Main St
Pittsford Farmers Market 5am-3pm, 3400 Monroe Ave
Photo Credit: www.cityofrochester.gov/publicmarket
Written by Ainslee Cunningham, Class of 2014