Friday, March 29, 2024

Sights, scents of farmer’s market attracts locals, students

Lines of tables laden with the fresh produce of local growers and the creations of local artisans make up the Plattsburgh Farmers’ and Crafters’ Market every Saturday.

As many as 30 vendors gather downtown on Durkee Street from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every week selling homegrown and homemade items.

“I love to bake, and it gives me a chance to bake,” vendor Rose Karkoski said. She has been selling an assortment of baked goods such as cookies, brownies, fruit tarts and much more at the farmer’s market for 10 years.

The market is much more than a bake sale. Local farmers sell fruits and vegetables, crafters sell their work, winemakers sell their wine and so much more.

Philip Favreau has been selling wine that he and his wife, Bonnie, have been making at his vineyard for six years.

He brings six different types of grape and specialty fruit wines to sell every week. He wants customers to try and experience the not-so-common wines. Favreau also has a booth at the Malone and Roses Point Markets.

The market has been open since 1990. The first year, they were originally located under a tent in Trinity Park. The next year, the building they currently do business in was built. Eight years ago, Patricia Parker became the manager of the market.

“We try to be very diverse in our products,” Parker said. “We have five vegetable people, and then we have arts and crafts.”

The products that are being sold have to be at least 50 percent “your own,” Parker said, which means at least half of the product needs to be made or grown by the seller.

As the manager, she arrives at the building every Saturday at 7 a.m. to put the signs out and unlock the doors. Parker assigns vendors to spaces in and outside the building before the season starts on Mother’s Day weekend. She also performs other managerial tasks until the season closes on Columbus Day weekend.

Parker and her family have owned a Maple Farm in West Chazy since 1889, and they have their own space to sell their syrups and other products in the market.

All of the vendors and customers see it as a social event. It is a peaceful, friendly atmosphere where people can mingle and relax. Most weeks they have performers to set the tone of the day.

“I love meeting the people at the market and getting to know them over the years and getting acquainted with their families,” Karkoski said. “It has been a really great experience, and I’ve gotten to know a lot of people doing it.”
Favreau likes that there is a wide range of people who go to the market.

“We see college students all the way up to the really old people,” he said. “It’s been six years of me doing this, and I practically know everyone who sells and comes here.”

“I enjoy visiting with the people here,” Parker said,“It’s like talking to old friends.”


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2 Comments

  1. Very interesting article—accurate and concise——all pertinent aspects of the market reported——interview was cordial—-questions were to the point——interviewer was polite and patient——-thank you for choosing our market–

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