According to their advertising, all of the vendors at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market produce their products within 30 miles of the market location. Consequently, I didn’t know what to expect. How many farms are there in the Ithaca area? -a surprising number (at least for me).
At the farmer’s market, I found not only vendors selling produce, but also honey, dairy and meat products, fresh flowers, bread and baked goods, soaps, jewelry, and gifts. There were also several restaurant stalls. The first lesson I learned was that I have been seriously underestimating our agricultural community.
Mine is not a farmer’s market going family. I had always believed they were essentially an outdoor Whole Foods-everything is beautiful, and it’s probably better for you, but who has that kind of money? The prices I saw at the market were surprisingly reasonable. Of course, you also get the benefit of knowing where your food came from, and the opportunity to purchase organic products. I don’t know that most “mid-range” grocery stores stock much organic produce-Wegmans might be an exception. But I do know that, when you can find it, it tends to be considerably more expensive than non-organic alternatives.
I live in a dorm, and my ability to cook is limited right now, but if I ever get an apartment, this is somewhere I can seem myself shopping on a regular basis. Not only is the farmers market a good place to go to get groceries, it’s a great way to get off campus for a while. The pavilion is located right by the lake (inlet?, river? Do they call it something else once it makes its way into Ithaca proper?) and there is a seating area and a dock in back. For my own part, I bought a banana and nutella crepe after I was finished browsing, and enjoyed the water view. I also grabbed a loaf of bread to bring back to my dorm. Cornell’s food is generally pretty good, but I feel like you can’t get good bread here.
One final advertisement: If, like me, you have a windowsill garden that is rapidly getting out of hand, Ithaca Farmer’s Market has something for you. I bought both a succulent and a passion flower, and, if there was more time left in the term, I definitely would have started some dorm-room herbs.
I wish you’d let us know what the surprising number was!
It is somewhat heartwarming to know that there are so many farms nearby. I often wonder where Cornell Dining gets their produce- at our volume of consumption (and discarding) it’s likely not from local sources.
I’m told that supporting local farmers is incredibly important, for you, for the farmers, and for the Earth. Less pesticides, herbicides, hormones, and antibiotics; less money going to large corporations; less packaging and shipping; and more ways to be in tune with the seasons.
I’ve been to the market a few times, but like you, I haven’t gone much since I live with a meal plan. Thanks to this post I definitely see myself going very often when I get my own apartment.