Farmers’ market in Medina opens for season on June 4

Photos courtesy of Chris Busch: Shoppers check out the wares at Black Button Distillery of Rochester’s booth at the Canal Village Farmers’ Market last year. The summer market begins June 4 at the corner of West Center Street and West Avenue.

MEDINA – Opening day of the Canal Village Farmers’ Market is a sure sign of summer, and shoppers can look forward to the opening on June 4.

“Our winter market had a very good season, but we’re always fired up for opening day of the summer season,” said Chris Busch, president of Orleans Renaissance Group, which sponsors the market. “The Saturday morning gathering of vendors, musicians and friends under sunshine and blue skies is a welcome sign of summer. After a long winter and more Covid, people are ready to enjoy summer life. We’re excited to be able to provide this great weekly summer event for the community.”

Gail Miller is manager of the market.

“I am looking forward to a great summer season the Canal Village Farmers’ Market,” Miller said. “As always, there’s a lot packed into the Saturday market, including regular and rotating vendors, food trucks, live music, kids’ scavenger hunts and more. Weekly updates can be found on the market’s Facebook page.”

Returning anchor vendors include Baker Farms, Roberts Farm Market, Human Farms, Papa Thom’s Rockin’ Bagels, LynOaken Farms, Gardner’s Gardens, Catherine Street Bakery, Heartland Organics, HateCuddler Craftworks and Flower Fields Forever.

Products to be found at the market include local beef, pork, chicken, garlic, garlic powder, eggs, mushrooms, cheese, numerous fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, bagels, herbs, barbecue sauce, herb blends, tea blends, fudge, jam, jellies, sea salts, cookies, pies, cakes, breads, scones, muffins, honey and many other items.

New regular vendors this year include Shirt Factory, Lock Ridge Apiary and Barn Owl Blacksmithing.

Wineries, mead and spirits will return, along with local beer. Scheduled throughout the season will be 819 Meadworks, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, Mountain Mule Ciderhouse and Schulze Winery and Vineyard. Black Button Distillery will also be back every month, along with a new vendor from Batavia, Eli Fish Brewery.

“We are super excited to welcome Eli Fish Brewing to our family of vendors,” Miller said. “It’s great to be able to add a local beer vendor to the market.

Tom Keefer of Celtic Cross will perform from 10 a.m. to noon on opening day of the Canal Village Farmers’ Market.

The market also has a great lineup of food trucks, with a nice variety for all tastes, Miller said.

“If there are other food trucks interested, we still have some Saturdays open,” she said.

Food trucks rotate throughout the season. In addition to the weekly anchor food truck, El Gran Burrito, other food trucks scheduled are Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza from Albion, Some Like it Hot from Buffalo and Greenlief’s on the Go from Middleport. Dubby’s will be on site for opening day.

Artisans and crafters include Between the Vines, Stillwater Pottery, HateCuddler’s Crafts/HHC and Laurel’s by the Creek.

“We’ve been contacted by quite a few artisans and crafters, and some spots are still available,” Miller said.

The weekly kid’s scavenger hunt will be sponsored by Maureen Hungerford this year, Miller said.

“Each week, kids can play by answering five market-related questions to win a prize from a box full of cool kid stuff,” Miller said.

Miller said the scavenger hunt is a very popular attraction, and they are grateful to Hungerford for her sponsorship.

“We have many kids play each week and they really love a choice from the prize box,” Miller said.

Live music at the market will be sponsored this year by Berkshire Hathaway Home Services-Zambito Realtors.

“We’re incredibly grateful for live music sponsorship,” Busch said. “It really makes the market vibe something special, and thanks to Berkshire Hathaway Home Services-Zambito Realtors, we have a full slate of musicians.”

Entertains scheduled so far are recording artist Barry DiGregorio, Rob Robinson, Thom Jennings, Thomas Keefer solo, Steve Novak, Zach Busch and Dark Road Duo.

The community tent is also back, according to Miller.

“The tent is for community organizations, such as tourism, veterans’ organizations, health and wellness organizations, Master Gardeners, charitable organizations and the like,” Miller said. “This gives these organizations a helpful outlet to share information about their services.”

Opening day will see the New York State Division of Veterans’ Services at the Community Tent. They will be answering questions and handing out Fresh Connect Check Coupon books to veterans.

“Any community-oriented organization who feels they might be appropriate for the market should contact us,” Miller said.

Miller encourages customers to check the Canal Village Farmers Market Facebook page for products available each Saturday.

The market has multiple options for making sales transactions. These include, besides cash, credit via Square, PayPal and VenMo.

The market accepts Senior Coupons, WIC, SNAP and Fresh Connect Checks and will soon be able to offer Double up Food Bucks to SNAP recipients. More information is available at the market manager’s tent.

The market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday. Miller can be reached at canalvillagemarket@gmail.com.