I’m from New York City which means I will jump at any chance to do something new and “non-city-like”. The Ithaca Farmer’s Market was the perfect opportunity to do so. I along with my peers walked through west campus down to the farmer’s market. Before we left we learned a bit about the history of this market. I found it fascinating that it was voted #2 for best farmer’s market in New York State.

I had always seen pictures of people here and always kept a mental note to go there one day. Now that I finally did, I think it’s safe to say the market exceeded my expectations. I was truly impressed by the variety of diverse foods and items. The market had fresh fruits and produce, tasty foods, plants, artwork, and my favorite… plants! Of course I didn’t leave with empty hands, I picked up some fresh fruit and juice, and two new plants for my room.

Besides the wide selection of food and produce, I also appreciated the atmosphere of the market. Locals and students came here to have a nice afternoon by the water enjoying delicious and fresh food, and picking up new finds. Local farmers and vendors also form a small community here sharing the product of their hard-work and skill. Although it was a fairly chilly day, the market still had a cozy feel nevertheless. It was definitely a well-spent Saturday afternoon at the market and I’ll certainly be going back very soon.

I went to the Ithaca Farmer’s Market for the first time last Saturday—and it was amazing! Walking around the structure was both exhilaratingly new and surprisingly familiar. All of the vendors selling their artisanal meats, custom woodworking, beautiful flowers, freshly-baked breads, aromatic cuisines, and ripe vegetables and fruits took me back to the traditional pazars (bazaars) that I am used to from back home in Istanbul, Turkey. The only thing missing was people yelling at each other.

Going to the Farmer’s Market was also a great escape from my day-to-day life in Studio. I bought a delicious loaf of banana bread, maple cotton candy, and lemon-scented geranium plant for my room. This excursion acted as a great metal reboot after a hectic week.

Last Saturday a group of students and myself met in the Flora Rose lobby to walk a little over a mile to the Ithaca Farmers Market. On the way over we saw off campus houses painted bright colors and kids playing outside. It was awesome to see Ithaca as more than just a college campus! When we got there we took a picture in front of the market before we were set free to roam around by ourselves.

The market was amazing! To be honest I did not expect the market to be as nice as it was. The market is under a covering that is strung with lights, and there is live music being played along the dock. There are a many many vendors selling honey, plants, fruit, jelly, clothes, jewelry and full meals! We went booth to booth looking and purchasing things that appealed to us. We left with full bags and stomachs.

The Ithaca Farmers Market has been around since 1973 and is open every year from April until December along the Cayuga Lake Dock. The covering for the market was built completely by volunteer labor. According to the Farmers Market website, there was also a period of time that the market was held in a Cornell parking lot. Finally, the market is over 40 years old and has been rated #9 on Americas best farmers markets, and I can see why.

Here are a few pictures that I took while there:

Last Saturday, I headed down to the farmers market with a rather large group of Rose Scholars, and I honestly wasn’t expecting much.  I’m from Boulder, Colorado, and our farmers market takes place on a nice little downtown street next to a park.  It’s fairly large, taking up the length of two blocks, and quite popular.  It’s…also not really particularly interesting.  I figured Boulder is definitely a farmers market kind of town, so I was under the impression that I’d seen pretty much everything a farmers market could offer.  I was entirely wrong.  In comparison, the Ithaca market is spectacular!  They had an atm, bathrooms, two live music acts, extensive parking, waterside seating, at least ten hot meal booths serving international cuisine, and an enormous indoor setup lit with festive strings of bulbs.  Additionally, I was there until 3pm and it was still open!  According to their website, they’re open 5 days a week and even have a winter market.

I actually wasn’t planning on buying anything except maybe a drink, since I only had few dollars in cash with me.  Then I realized they had an atm, and I ended up with a hot chocolate ($2), 4 apples ($6), an unreasonably large jar of honey ($8), and a little potted succulent ($6).

It’s certainly a bit more expensive than the grocery store, where you can buy apples for like 30 cents each, so I probably wouldn’t go there for bulk purchases for recipes or parties.  However, on the scale of 1 apple being 30 cents versus 1 apple being a dollar fifty, I don’t think it’d be too painful to head down to the farmers market for personal purchases and a non-dining-hall meal now and then.  It was definitely nice to know that I was benefiting local businesses, which of course also means that the goods weren’t shipped for hundreds of miles, using gas and emitting pollution.  However, it was also interesting to get to interact with people who were actually involved in producing the goods.  I generally shop with as little interaction as I can — self-checkout 100% of the time, online if possible — so this interaction is not something that is immediately comfortable for me, but I’m glad I have the chance to experience it.  Should I go back at a less busy time, I would love to be able to ask some of the vendors more about their products and how their businesses work.

I hovered and hesitated at least ten minutes before buying the plant.  Why?  Well there’s no self-checkout at a farmers market, and I’m an awkward person.  Like, what if this was a weird plant to buy?  I don’t know anything about plants, what if I said something dumb?  Which woman was I even supposed to talk to?  It was actually supposed to be $8, but when I finally went to buy it, I realized to myself out loud that I only had six ones and would need to break a larger bill.  “Six?” said the woman, “I can do six!  I need ones, give me that!”  So I got my plant for 25% off.  She then told me how much to water it, that it grows best with a lot of sunlight, and that she’d picked the pot because it matched the little red edges on the leaves.  She also said that they do custom arrangements and will put plants on hold for you if you want to come back another day.  It’s absolutely a more flexible, more personal, and more friendly interaction than going to your average supermarket.

Of course later as my little plant and I were trotting down the street back home, I thought to myself, A plant!  You’ve bought another freaking plant!  Why have you bought a plant?  You’ve killed the last three succulents you owned!  Do you even know how hard it is to kill succulents?  It’s supposed to be basically impossible!  I felt like Darla taking home a doomed fish.  In any case, it lives on my windowsill now, and maybe fourth time is the charm?  If not, I suppose I can always buy another the next time I go back — and I do plan to go back.

I came to Ithaca four or five years ago with my family, long before I came to Cornell. We came to see the gorges, the lakes, the wineries, and the Farmers’ Market. Cornell was just a subtext, but I think my parents were using the trip as some sort of subtle motivation early in high school. We did take a tour of the school but the entire time I was adamant that I did not want to come here. Born and raised in England but displaced to the United States, I wanted to return to a British university because I thought that is what would make me happy. And so, for the years leading up to me coming here, the Farmers’ Market was my fondest memory of Ithaca.
Naturally, over time the Farmers’ Market has begun to occupy a special place within Ithaca. It has become a reminder of my family and for that time before college when I wasn’t certain of what direction I was going. Cornell and Ithaca at once seemed like such an unachievable goal, but now I’m here, every time I go to the Farmers’ Market I realize how far I’ve come.
This trip to the Farmers’ Market was the first one I got to do with people I knew. I had been several times for programs last year with people I didn’t know very well. This time, I could share what I tasted and saw with a group of other Rose Scholars. I was surrounded by people that I had become friends with and I understood at that point I was where I was meant to be.

If there is one place a college student should spend frivolously, that place would be a farmer’s market. As a transfer student from Pennsylvania, farmer’s markets are no new thing to me. I enjoy buying handmade and homemade goods from people in my community and try to get something new each time I go. I was ecstatic that one of the first House events included a trip to the Ithaca Farmer’s Market. By the end of the trip I actually spent all the money I had brought!

Since the Market’s beginning on Saturdays in 1973, local growers, craftspeople and food vendors could gather together to sell their goods. From my trip to the farmer’s market I bought a Black Prince succulent from a local florist, a pair of mittens made out of recycled sweaters and lamb’s wool from a crafter, and some fresh cheese from a woman who owned a dairy farm. I am happy to say the Ithaca Farmer’s Market’s mission statement stands true to this day.

All vendors at the Ithaca Farmers Market reap and create their goods within thirty miles of the Steamboat Landing, the market’s location. The market helps local businesses, consolidating over 160 vendors into an inviting, large wooden pavilion and giving consumers a varied selection that ranges from food to jewelry to freshly crafted soap. The diversity and quality of the products consistently draw not only locals, but also travelers from afar. The market was ranked as one of the 101 Best Farmers Markets in America, so it’s no surprise that word has gotten out.

What’s interesting to me is that, as I walked across the wooden deck looking for something to eat, the space felt crowded but not touristy. Smiles from the welcoming staff, along with relaxing live music infect tourists with a kind of small town charm. Every time I go, it’s almost like I can feel my blood pressure start to lower and I am reminded of Ithaca’s splendor. The gyros and fried plantains I have had there are incredible and if I had more desk space, I would have probably already bought one of the wooden art pieces I have seen on display. Even though there is much to see and explore in the market, everyone seemed to be walking at a leisurely pace, able to put aside the workweek’s rush and preoccupations for a Sunday morning.

A lively fiddle tune fluttered through the breeze as our small group of Rose residents reached the Ithaca Farmer’s Market at around midday last Saturday. Setup under a wooden pavilion, the market was made-up of many stalls selling almost every local product available, from fresh honey to Sri Lankan cuisine and homemade cheese. A large crowd of people wandered between stalls, talking, eating, laughing and enjoying themselves.

The overall atmosphere of the market surprised me because I had expected something much smaller, less crowded and less inviting. Instead, I found it to be cozy and lively with a wide variety of items sold. It’s, therefore, not surprising that it is rated to be one of the best farmers markets in New York and America, itself.  It was extremely relaxing to partake in such a casual weekend activity beyond social life at Cornell. Seeing the tourists and families walking around the market reminded me that Ithaca is not simply what we see at Cornell. The residents of Ithaca have a radically different experience of the city than I do. Walking through the residential areas surrounding the market to on my way there, I realized that I spend about 10 months of my life in a city that I know so little about. I want to see myself as a resident of Ithaca community in addition to the Cornell community. Luckily with events like the farmers market, it should be easy to explore Ithaca more thoroughly in my remaining three years here.

Honey Stall at the Market

Around for almost 45 years, Ithaca’s Farmers Market has made for a wonderful place to have brunch, or just stop by and discover local treats. A fairly busy place, it was easy to see why so many people came to experience it. There were many places with fresh food cooked in front of you. Such as the oven baked pizzas – yes, they brought a stone oven – and the crepes, which I had and they were amazing. There were vendors selling breads, cheeses, soaps, and maple and honey products. The honey vendor that I went to had multiple types of honey you could try; I tried Wildflower and Strawberry, both of which were delicious. I could even make out the undertones, the flavors matching the type of the honey. I also saw a vendor selling colorful yellow and pink mushrooms. With all the vendors, it was easy to get caught up in all the wonderful products; I ended up buying maple candy and a loaf of focaccia bread, which was so good I finished in about 2 hours. Not only was this a fun event, but I got to try a lot of yummy foods and buy a few items to take back and share with friends. I would definitely recommend that you go to the farmers market at least once… although it may not be your last time. I have a pretty good idea where I will be spending my Saturday mornings from now on.

As a transfer student coming all the way from Miami, Florida (yep, you read that right), I spent months mentally preparing myself for a huge lifestyle change. I had done extensive research about Cornell and Ithaca at large so finally being on campus almost felt surreal. After becoming a Rose Scholar, I was excited to be able to try everything Ithaca had to offer, especially with fellow students in the Rose community. After first hearing about this event I was excited about this opportunity because I had never attended a farmers market before. Not only would I be seeing a farmers market for the first time, but I would be seeing one that is considered to be one of the best markets in the whole state of New York.

I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of vendors and variety of products that were featured at the market. One of the first stations that I saw featured a Cuban food vendor. I’m Cuban so seeing this stand instantly made my day and after tasting the delicious sandwich I ordered, I felt like I was right back home. Seeing hundreds of people walking around with their family and friends and sitting by the water enjoying the delicious food while listening to live music was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I was especially excited when I learned that the farmers market is a frequent event that we could attend on the weekends. I’m grateful that I was able to experience one of Ithaca’s greatest features so early on in my time here and I’m looking forward to learning more about Ithaca’s unique culture.

Last Saturday, I had a great opportunity to go with fellow rose scholars to the local farmer’s market. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, as its been many years since I’ve been to any farmer’s market. To say the least, I was pleasantly surprised. The food — something I’ll touch on later — was amazing. I also really enjoyed the local atmosphere, with a nice venue, great waterfront views, music, and participation of many different local farms, craftsman and eateries. I was surprised to learn that the farmer’s market wasn’t a one-time thing, and that it actually was open regularly throughout the fall and spring! Before I get to the food, I have to address how in some ways, the trip was an enlightening experience. To escape the stress of classes and impending exams, and get to meet local members of the Ithaca community in a social setting was something that I haven’t had many experiences to do.

Going back to the food, there were a plethora of different tastes and cuisines one could try. I enjoyed meals from two different places: wood stoved pizza from a local pizza stall and some lo mein from the thai cuisine stall. Both of the food items were great, although I must admit the portion size for the lo mein was a bit small. Regardless, after the meal I also went to a stall that was serving an assortment of Indian snacks and drinks. I tried one of the vegetable samosas, which was splendid, alongside an organic iced chai. I must admit, the organic iced chai was amongst the best chilled drinks I’ve ever had. I’ve included a picture of it below.

10/10 would recommend

This past Saturday I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go to the Ithaca Farmer’s Market. Being a transfer student new to Cornell University this semester, I was excited to get a feel for the Ithaca community. What I didn’t know when signing up for this event, however, was that Ithaca’s Farmer’s Market is consistently ranked among the best in the nation—and for good reason.

I come from a small, suburban town in southwestern Connecticut. Being vaguely similar in size to Ithaca, I had wrongfully assumed that the farmer’s market here would be identical to the one in my home: a few pop-up tents with vendors from the surrounding community, and not much else. In Ithaca, however, it was much more lively. There was live music, people sitting and enjoying their food everywhere, and hundreds of different craftsmen and women all with smiles on their faces. I was surprised to learn that over the years, several weddings have been held in the pavilion, which just goes to show how much of a staple of the community this event is. Being my first time outside of Cornell campus, this event provided me my first taste of the Ithaca community—and it has only made me more excited to be here for the next three years. I definitely plan to visit the farmer’s market again, only this time with a backpack perhaps, so I have a way to carry my new possessions back to campus.

Visiting the Ithaca Farmers Market this past week, a few things struck me. The size: 150 vendors is a *lot* of people. I had been to farmers markets in the past in my hometown and other smaller towns in West Michigan, but this was a whole different setup. I got a gyro and scone for lunch (which were both delicious, incidentally) and lollygagged, delaying when I’d have to return to campus and start homework. Another thing that surprised me was the amount of non-food items there. There were woodworkers, jewelry stores, paintings, etc. Broadening the scope of a farmers market to more than just strictly farms makes a lot of sense: after all, one of the primary purposes of a farmers market is to support local businesses.

Walking back from the market, it got me wondering about all of the things about Ithaca we as Cornell students may miss while we’re here. In contrast to some schools that are very integrated into the wider community, Cornell can seem isolating at times. I’ve gone a month or more having not set foot off the campus and that worries me at times. Furthermore, I realized that I actually don’t know a lot about Ithaca. I mean sure, I know about Applefest, the copious amount of farms in the area, surface stuff like that. But I’ve never had a substantial conversation with an Ithaca resident that didn’t go to Cornell and maybe that’s not a great thing.

According to this article (http://www.ithaca.com/news/ithaca/ezra-s-vision-how-a-shortfall-of-student-housing-ripples/article_35319f30-e290-11e6-a942-3f7af49588f4.html) it wasn’t always so isolating. Cornell didn’t have on campus housing for a long time: almost 100 years. Ezra Cornell in particular wanted students to live in the community, not alongside it. The current housing market is a whole ‘nother can of worms, but maybe Ezra Cornell had a point.

Last Saturday, I had the chance to go to the Farmer’s Market and I truly enjoyed the novel experience.  When I arrived at the Farmer’s Market with my friends, we were in awe of the different local vendors and the different types of cuisine’s that were served.  I started with the honey vendor who was selling natural honey.  On his right, he had live bees in their honeycomb creating what was to be our special treat.  When he handed me a sample and said “Try it!”, I tasted the natural honey and knew this was not something I could get at any retail chain like Shoprite or Walmart.  Unfortunately, the honey was out of my budget for the day and so I had to move along to other vendors.

I think the most fascinating part of the entire experience was seeing how local farmers and vendors come to one common location and share their product with the greater Ithaca community.  As I continued to walk around, I remembered that I didn’t drink my daily cup of joe that morning.  Since I was at the Farmer’s Market, however, I thought I would try something new.  I stood in line at one coffee shop and ordered a Kombucha.  To my dismay, Kombucha was not a type of coffee as I had thought it would be.  However, it was a sweetened black tea that supposedly had a lot of health benefits.  After taking a few sips, I was surprised by how savory this drink was and how I never heard of it before.

The overall experience at the Farmer’s Market was incredible and I hope to further explore the market even more when my parents visit next month!

The Ithaca Farmer’s Market- as ‘local’ as you can get. No chains or multinationals- just farmers and artisans within a 30 mile radius that want to sell their products. The walk is not too long for Cornell students- especially for those living on West. After down the trot down the steep hill and the gorgeous walk through Fall Creek you arrive at the Farmer’s Market- a wonderful structure next to the Cayuga’s Inlet full of nice locals and a lot of visitors.

The Market has not always been located on the Lake- since its opening in 1973 it has moved to several locations, starting from near Agway to the Commons. Its rated as one of the best farmers markets in New York State- and I would not disagree. It has great food, nice vendors, a wide array of options, and a large fan base. I personally tried the Cambodian food- but this was one of the many international cuisine options available.

At the Farmer’s Market there is not just food- there is also art! I was able to talk to Alice Muhlback- a New Jersey artist that now lives in Ithaca. Her work is featured int he Manndible Cafe on the Cornell Campus. She described her work as having a “spiritual tone”. I was able to buy a postcard of a piece (because although its not too expensive, I am on a college student budget), and it titled “Who Are You?”. It features what seems to be the outline of glasses-wearing worm, whose black outline encloses a space with cream colored paint, making it stand out (but not too much) from the blue outline of the painting. It seems to be referencing the iconic worm coming out of an apple, a well known symbol of “studying-ness”. In my interpretation of the work, it seems to be specially relevant to Cornell students- who have the reputation of finding their identity in school work. It seems to be questioning who really are you, are you just a study-er and nothing more? Is there more to you than your GPA?

Back home in Missouri, the concept of the farmer’s market is a staple in every town, urban or rural, although the success of each market relative to the success of local commercial competitors varies between regions. In my hometown of Columbia, the farmer’s market is modest, boasting no more than thirty or so vendors on even the busiest Saturdays, and appears as a small cluster of white canopies three times a week in the parking lot of the activities and recreation center (for reasons I will soon elaborate on). There is only one vendor who sells ready-to-eat food, and no craftsmen or artists selling their work. On the occasion there is a live band present, the music is often accompanied by the shouts of the local boys’ soccer teams holding practice barely 100 meters away.

Given what my previous notion of a farmer’s market was, the Ithaca Farmer’s Market was a total surprise – over 150 vendors, a designated space, and products ranging from Cambodian food to handmade clothing to pesto (as a side note, I highly recommend The Garden of Earthly Mirth’s Garlic Greens Pesto). The founding idea was the same as that of the Columbia Farmer’s Market, but somewhere along the way the two markets divulged from each other, for better or for worse. To me, the evolution of the Ithaca Farmer’s Market into a local attraction – I believe GRF Sam mentioned that around 30% of market-goers are non-Ithaca residents – was eye-opening. In Columbia, where the spirit of Wal-Mart’s Sam Walton (an alum of my own high school) survives in every city bill thanks to his mysteriously powerful descendants, there is no way for the farmer’s market to ever expand its territory – and, therefore, no way for it to ever match even half the economic and cultural success of the Ithaca Farmer’s Market. Oh, well: business is business, I guess. If I were a Walton, I would probably also do everything I could to maintain my family’s success.

While it does seem a little sad that there may never be a huge locally-made market in my hometown, Columbia is not Ithaca and Ithaca is not Columbia, and thus the presence, impact, and products of the local agriculturalist identity in both cities are necessarily different; for starters, Columbia doesn’t have quite the range of apple products as Ithaca (a definite drawback to life in the midwest). In the grand scheme of things, Columbia makes its money off other attractions, and I spend most of the year in Ithaca anyways – but I think I’ll wander a little longer and a little more often at the Columbia Farmer’s Market next time I’m in town.

For most students at Cornell, it’s only too easy to stay within the confines of Cornell’s campus. We have everything we need here (especially those of us living on-campus), and the Cornell community hosts so many events that you could fill your schedule without setting foot off of the Arts Quad. The bubble on the Hill is comfortable, and the slope down to the town is formidable—but last Saturday, a small group of Rose Scholars braved the downhill journey to mingle with community members at the Farmer’s Market.

Before we left, our guides told us that a full 30% of Farmer’s Market visitors are tourists passing through Ithaca. But if you think about it, Ithaca’s population is about 30,000; between Cornell and Ithaca College, the population swells to about 60,000 during the semester. That means that while Cornell and IC are in session, 50% of people within Ithaca city limits are not, strictly speaking, Ithacans. Compare that to the proportion of locals that frequent the Farmer’s Market (70%)—except that here we’re talking about half of an entire town that is essentially “passing through” the Ithaca Community.

So are we just “passing through” Ithaca during our 4 years here? It would seem that the purpose of a university, though primarily centered around education of its students, is also to give back to the community. If we are training our students to become productive members of the worldwide community, it only makes sense to reach out into the immediate community, too. Cornell has lots of opportunities to engage with the Ithaca community such as Into the Streets, service learning and community service projects and programs, and outreach of individual clubs (the Chorus and Glee Club, for example, do workshops with the local high school choirs). But engaging with the community can also be as simple as stepping off of the Hill and getting some fresh veggies from the lakeside. It’s a start, anyhow.

Fellow Rose Scholar Kimaya and I

When I first visited Ithaca two years ago, I made my first trip to the Farmer’s Market. I remember taking the TCAT there and walking around for a bit, but not buying too much besides this one souvenir shirt. At the time, I had no idea about how important the Farmer’s Market was to the Ithaca community and to the vendors. Before our walk there last Saturday, Shiv and Sam told us a bit about how the Farmer’s Market served as a gathering place for people from all over upstate New York and how some vendors traveled for 50 miles to sell their products to the local Ithaca community. Back at home, we have a farmer’s market, but it serves as just a busy grocery store with very minimal authenticity behind it. The Ithaca Farmer’s Market has a great, outdoor atmosphere that is unlike any food market that I have ever visited. Additionally, it is really an outlet for people from all-over, and a unique old-fashioned way to sell great food and other products.

One of my favorite parts of the trip to the Farmer’s Market was the water-front scenery. As we approached the market, we traveled alone a peaceful, scenic path overlooking a nice body of water. Once we arrived, I got to try some of the delicious food, that I must say was offered at great prices. I had a burrito and sweet crepe. The vendors do not need any fancy kitchens or appliances to treat Ithaca residents with delicious food, as they have perfected their craft by working with such limited space. This truly amazes me. It also surprised me at how well the vendors dealt with large crows. Almost each stand had very long lines, yet all vendors were always friendly and handled everyone with haste. I look forward to going back to the Farmer’s Market and trying some different offerings.

Truly a gem of Ithaca, the Ithaca Farmers Market is one of the county’s most precious establishments of the summer and fall seasons. Located under a large open pavilion adjacent to the waterfront, the Ithaca Farmers Market provides a space for over 150 vendors to sell their wares ranging from fresh vegetables, to meats, to fungi, to honey, pastries, tapestries and more all under one roof. The market has grown considerably since its establishment in 1973, and each week it attracts thousands of patrons, many of whom travel from outside of Ithaca just to visit the market. From this, the Ithaca Farmers Market forms a crucial backbone of the agritourism sector as it connects farmers and artisans from within 30 miles of Ithaca with members of community on a weekly basis.

On my trip down to the market, I had the pleasure of purchasing some delicious ground cherries (Physalis) and eating them fresh as I explored the market. Ground cherries (a husked fruit found in the same family as tomato) are just a single example of some of the unusual produce that can be found weekly at the market. After running into a friend from Ithaca College (one can never go to the market without seeing at least one familiar face amongst the hundreds), I enjoyed a fresh baked sweet roll and purchased a new plant for my room–night blooming jasmine cultivated at a nearby nursery. Before heading back, I took the time to enjoy some of the local musicians playing by the waterfront. The Ithaca Farmers Market is not your average quaint countryside market; it is instead a bustling hub showcasing a wonderful variety of goods so diverse that there is certainly something to pique the interest of just about anyone.

Every trip I’ve made to the Ithaca Farmer’s Market, I never really took time to appreciate what was around me. Sure, I was excited to try the diversity of foods and products each vendor sold, but I never took a step back to examine how special the Ithaca Farmer’s Market truly was. But that changed when I traveled to the farmer’s market with my fellow Rose Scholars this past weekend. Before we made our trip to the farmer’s market, we were told various facts, such as the number of vendors there are (about 150), and that thousands of people make the trip to the farmer’s market each day. The one fact that stood out to me, however, was that every vendor comes from about 30 miles of Ithaca. This fact makes the farmer’s market truly special to me, since the funds from each purchase goes to someone around the town, not to someone in a corporate office possibly thousands of miles away. This also made me think that, not only was I buying fresh and healthy foods, but I was also supporting the community by buying local. The food I usually purchase comes from a grocery store, which offers foods from all over the world instead of locally sourced goods. So now when I go to the farmer’s market, I will take time to step back and appreciate how special it is to be supporting local businesses while also receiving fresh and healthy food. If it weren’t for Sam and Shiv explaining the rich history of the Ithaca Farmer’s Market during our trip, I don’t think I would reach my new level of fondness for this wonderful place right here in our community.