Medina farmers’ market continues through end of October with all vendors

By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 21 September 2020 at 8:04 am

Market shifts to winter season after October

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market manager Gail Miller, right, and her husband Dave put up a tent for a vendor early on Saturday morning. The market will continue at the corner of West Avenue and West Center Street through the end of October.

MEDINA – Medina’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market has had a difficult summer, with the Covid pandemic and the restrictions in place.

The market has coped, however, and plans to continue its regular operation from 9 to 2 p.m. Saturdays until the end of October, said market manager Gail Miller.

“We still want to get the word out we will be here with all our vendors until the end of October, and then the winter market season will begin,” she said.

Regular vendors include Roberts Farm Market of Medina with a variety of fruits and vegetables, Hannah Pollard of Medina with home-baked goods, Human Farms of Appleton with fruits and vegetables and Baker Farms of Medina with meat.

Each week shoppers can expect to find various other tables selling their goods or, in the case of non-profits, providing information on the services they provide. The market welcomes non-profits to set up free of charge.

Last week found Heather Smith, director of Orleans Community Health Foundation, and several representatives from United Way of Orleans County promoting their agencies. United Way was selling tickets to its first-ever chicken barbecue, which is scheduled Oct. 9 at the 4-H Fairgrounds. The barbecue will be drive-thru and will include announcement of United Way’s 2021 campaign.

John Klingler was doing business at his booth for Black Button Distilling in Rochester. He was selling the company’s bourbon, gin and moonshine. Klingler shared his company’s policy is to use local sources wherever they can. All their grain comes from Edgewood Farms in Groveland. He is scheduled to be back at the market on Oct. 31.

Dean Bellack, director of United Way of Orleans County, had chicken barbecue tickets for sale at Saturday’s Canal Village Farmers’ Market in Medina. The market allows non-profits to set up a table free of charge.

As the season changes, so will the produce offered at the market, Miller said. Baker Farms offers beef and pork all year, as well as garlic, eggs and goats’ milk soap. The winter market will feature winter squash, cabbage and potatoes, as well as wreaths and holiday decorations.

This is the sixth season for the market, which started in 2015, as the result of an idea by Chris Busch, Cindy Robinson and Gail Miller.

“We wanted to keep a market going after the market in the canal basin closed,” Miller said.  “We started talking about it and I ended up as market manager.”

Miller admits it is a big commitment, but one to which she is dedicated. She is at the market every Saturday, usually as early as 7:45 a.m. She provides tables and a tent for any non-profit who doesn’t have one.

Her goal is to expand the market to attract crafters. She would also like to see any small business just starting up come in and promote their new venture.

“This would be a perfect place to get their name out there,” she said.

She added she has a number of great volunteers who help the market run smoothly.

She also reminds the community that the market has a double benefit. Anyone eligible for SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) can get tokens to spend at the market. When they ask for their SNAP tokens, they are eligible for double coupons, up to $20 to spend at the market.

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