Kids Day August 16
by Kristina Gabalski
Breads from Nice Farms on display at the Genesee Country Farmers Market.For nearly four decades, the Genesee Country Farmers Market has been a fixture in Batavia. The “bring only what you grow market” features a wide range of locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods, wine and other specialty vendors and is held Tuesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot at Batavia Downs Casino and Racetrack, 8315 Park Road in Batavia, not far west of the intersection of Route 98 at the Batavia exit on the NYS Thruway.
Long-time market vendor Sharon Brent of Schwab Farm in Gasport says the Genesee Country Farmers Market is becoming more unique among local farmers markets because vendors must grow all the produce they sell. She explains it is becoming more common for vendors at other markets to acquire some or all of the produce they sell from other sources, even from out-of-state.
At the Genesee Country Farmers Market “you buy directly from the grower,” Sharon says. “You are buying from the person that grew the produce. We are knowledgeable about what we grow, we can answer your questions. We have recipes to share. It’s truly fresher to buy directly from the grower.”
During a recent Tuesday at the market, which features produce and baked goods, Lora Partyka of Partyka Farms in Kendall assisted a customer who was interested in purchasing peaches. Lora was able to answer all her questions, explaining the difference between varieties offered by Partyka Farms. Lora offered the customer samples of the fruit and was able to tell the customer details such as exactly when the peaches were harvested.
Lora says the grower is the only one who can tell you exactly where and how the produce was grown and what, if any, pesticides were used. They even have information on whether they grow genetically modified crops and can verify that information, she adds.
On Fridays, the market expands to feature produce, baked goods and specialty vendors with items like fresh pierogi, cut flowers and wine.
According to Market Manager Mike Bakos, current vendors include: Partyka Farms, Schwab Farm and Bakery, Nice Farms, Stonehouse Acres (which offers cut flowers), Genesee Valley Coffee, Harper Hill Farms (which offers goat milk soap), Schwenk Wine Cellars, Whittier Fruit Farms, Mountain Top Kettle Korn, Renko’s Meat (which offers specialty sausages and jerky), Keeping Traditions Pierogies, (which offers familiar varieties as well as special flavors of the month like sweet potato, pepper jack, and bacon and cheddar), and Alston’s Bone Suckin’ BBQ.
The market also offers local community service organizations and groups like volunteer fire departments, and Cornell Cooperative Extension, a free community booth, Bakos says, giving them the opportunity to fundraise and get their message out to the public.
Kids Day August 16
On Friday, August 16, the market will hold its first, “Kids’ Day at the Market.” Bakos says there will be free entertainment, free gifts from vendors, custom airbrush art, samples from Upstate Milk. “Perry’s Ice Cream has donated ice cream sandwiches,” he says, “and Genesee County Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Dairy Princess will be here.”
The Kids Day is the latest of several special events the market has hosted over the years to help draw-in the community.
Sharon Brent says in the past, “A Taste of the Market” has featured samples of dishes from the market’s own Field Notes cookbook. The cookbook includes market recipes for salads, breads, muffins, coffee cakes, vegetables, soups and stews, main dishes, desserts, as well as many tips about using local produce. Recipes showcase fresh seasonal produce which can be found at the market – and include dishes like stuffed eggplant, Sharon’s butternut squash gratin, zucchini brownies and Lora’s special coleslaw and corn oysters.
This year the market began its own “Community Supported Market,” or CSM program. Sharon Brent says the idea is an off-shoot of more traditional CSAs – Community Supported Agriculture programs – but doesn’t require customers to make an initial investment of sometimes hundreds of dollars.
Market customers can purchase $45 in Market Gift Certificates (market bucks) whenever they wish. With the $45 purchase, they receive a $5 certificate for free, meaning they can purchase $50 in produce and goods from vendors.
“You save ten percent on market purchases,” Sharon notes.
There is no expiration – the certificates are good all season and can be purchased by cash, check or EBT.
“So far, we have sold 500 the first year,” Bakos says.
Each week the market also raffles-off a free bag of groceries with each vendor contributing. A free raffle on the opening day of this year’s market gave away $50 in the CSM market bucks, Bakos adds.
He says the market participates in the Farmers Market Nutrition Program which provides assistance to WIC participants and the elderly through the Seniors Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
EBT and Food Stamp cards are welcome at the market and Sharon adds that the Genesee Country Farmers Market was one of the first in the state to accept Food Stamps as it was one of three markets across New York which took part in a pilot program for the WIC program.
The market is open Tuesdays and Fridays through October 29.
