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Fruition Livestream: Summer Recap

In the past three months, those tuning into the Fruition Local Foods Livestream have gotten a significant taste of the north county’s food scene. This series gives viewers a chance to really get to know the people behind the businesses. Interviewees shared how and why they grow, cook, and sell the food and products that they do. Viewers have the chance to win prizes that are generously donated by the farmers and chefs on the program. Past viewers have walked away with a Thanksgiving Turkey, gift certificates, and fresh local honey, just to name a few. Celebrate the growers and makers in our community and tune in for the next showcase this Wednesday, August 18th from 7 to 8 pm.

Each month features three unique farmers or food entrepreneurs. Here are some of the tidbits we’ve enjoyed so far from each month. 

May Showcase 

During the first-ever local foods showcase the Livestream provided some insight into the culinary magic that is happening at Big Spoon Kitchen in Potsdam. Owner and chef Will Trithart shared how meals rotate weekly based on seasonally available items. 

Eight O’Clock Ranch has continued to provide their customers near and far, with a range of delicious and healthy meats. We heard from owner Kassandra about how their business model started off nearly 20 years ago with sales mainly by mail but has since shifted in the past few years to predominantly local sales. Read more Fruition Livestream: Summer Recap

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June Fruition Showcase

Are you one of the 600+ viewers who saw the June Fruition Local Food Showcase online? It’s an amazing time of year for food grown or made in our region and our livestream shines a spotlight on three unique food producers each month.

The June edition featured Daniel Martin of Martin’s Farmstand in Potsdam, Matt Martin of M & M Eggs in Massena, and Alicia & Josh Taillon of The Blue House in Madrid.

Martin’s Farmstand

Daniel and Mendy Martin started with a you-pick berry patch in 1998 and now, 20+ years later, has a full complement of items from their homegrown vegetables to meat, maple and more sourced from other area growers they know and trust. In our conversation, Daniel elegantly explained how a food system only works if both the growers AND the eaters are dedicated to each other. We created a snippet of his interview. Learn more about their family business here.

Visit Martin’s for a well-stocked local food shopping experience.
Martin’s grow the most perishable crops on site, such as strawberries and lettuce so they are at their freshest, while sourcing from other growers to increase their selection at the stand.
M & M Eggs

“When we buy birds we look for some of the best flocks in the United States and get the best genetics we possibly can,” shares Matt Martin. M & M Eggs’ pride and passion is conserving chicken breeds that are in danger of disappearing Read more June Fruition Showcase

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Potsdam Food Co-op Receives Relocation Funding: What Does it Mean for Local Foods?

The Potsdam Food Co-op was recently awarded $1.65 million as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding for the town of Potsdam. These funds will be used to move the Co-op to a larger location on Market Street. We spoke with Andy Peet, the Co-op’s General Manager, to learn more about how this project will impact our local food system. You can read the full proposal online to learn more about how the DRI funds will be used here. Read more Potsdam Food Co-op Receives Relocation Funding: What Does it Mean for Local Foods?