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The Saratoga Farmers’ Market, the area’s longest running farmers’ market, opened its 43rd outdoor market season May 1 at its current location at the Wilton Mall, in the former Bon-Ton and Bow Tie Cinemas parking lots.
The Wednesday market opened May 5 at downtown Saratoga’s High Rock Park.
This year’s Saturday markets, weekly from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature around 65 local vendors selling fresh produce, dairy products, eggs, meats, flowers, baked goods, prepared foods, and more. At Wednesday’s markets, weekly from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 20 vendors will be providing a similar range of items.
The decision to start the summer season in two locations was made to keep market vendors and customers safe while the COVID-19 pandemic still requires social distancing. The smaller Wednesday market fits comfortably at High Rock Park, but for the larger Saturday market a more expansive footprint is still needed, for which the Wilton Mall has proved a successful location. A survey conducted among customers, which gathered over 700 responses, indicated an even split in their location preferences.
The markets will continue to follow current COVID-19 safety guidelines for farmers’ markets by hosting socially distanced markets, offering hand washing and sanitizing opportunities, and following mask requirements for vendors and customers. The Saturday market will continue to offer its online pre-ordering and curbside pickup service. Market staff will continually assess market safety and updated operational guidelines for farmers’ markets and do not rule out moving back downtown when it is deemed appropriate to do so.
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is a year-round producer-only market. From May through October, the market hosts approximately 80 vendors selling vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, yogurt, milk, baked goods, jams, wine, spirits, soap, flowers, and freshly prepared and ready-to-eat foods. The market provides customers with locally-made products from five counties: Saratoga, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Washington, and Warren.
More information is at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org and on Facebook and Instagram.