Farmers’ market kicks off season in Medina

MEDINA – The Canal Village Farmers’ Market kicked off its second season today with 11 vendors at 127 West Center St., across from the Post Office.

Baker Farms from Beals Road in Medina is among the new vendors this season. The farm specializes in pork products, eggs, garlic and herbs in containers that are the bottoms of pop bottles. The Bakers include Ken, right, and his wife Rose. Their niece, Bethany Pfenning, joined them for the day at the market.

The Orleans Renaissance Group manages the market. Every Saturday there should be 11 to 13 regular vendors. Additional vendors will rotate, including wineries taking turns each week of the month. Altogether, market manager Gail Miller said there will be about 20 vendors throughout the market season, which continues through October.

Gail Miller center, is manager of the Canal Village Farmers’ Market. She is pictured with Jackie Lonnen of Lyndonville, left, and Gina Miller of Carlton. They both completed a master food preservation program. They gave demonstrations today on canning strawberries. The Cornell Cooperative Extension has workshops throughout the year in home food preservation, including a workshop Monday on strawberry jam from 6 to 9 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

The master food preservers will do other demonstrations at the farmers’ market this year.

Lindsay Heck and her father Tom represent Herbalty Cottage, a Main Street business in Medina that sells organic products, including vinegars, olive oils, teas and other products, including Himalayan lamps (in front of Tom Heck).

Herbalty Cottage is one of the new vendors at the market. The Hecks said they wanted to reach out to more customers by coming to the market.

Bob Renko of Kendall is back for another season at the market. He has run a meat processing business the past 15 years, after working 27 years at Kodak.

The market gives customers access to locally grown produce and other farm products as well as WNY wines, mead and craft beers.

“We are thrilled to be opening our second season with so many terrific new additions,” said Miller, the market manager. “As the season progresses, we will have even more to offer.”

Provided photo

New signs have been added to the entrances of the village to promote the farmers’ market.