Winter farmers market to be held in former Price Chopper
TROY, N.Y. » The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market ( TWFM) will hold its first indoor Winter market of the season in the former Lansingburgh Price Chopper this Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 60 vendors will participate.
For the previous 18 years, the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market held its winter market downtown in the Troy Atrium, which the organization leased from the owner. This winter will be the first time since its inception that the market will have a presence in Lansingburgh, Troy’s northernmost district.
The former supermarket, which closed in February, is located at 865 2nd Ave. on a piece of land that backs the Hudson River just south of the Troy-Waterford Bridge. The farmers market is leasing the building through March from Schenectady-based Clark Trading Corp.
Last March, COVID precautions put the indoor winter market on pause. In May, the market re-opened outdoors with a limited number of vendors in a private parking lot owned by Russell Sage College. In June, the City permitted an expanded outdoor farmers market in the Front Street parking lot adjacent to Troy’s Riverfront Park.
“With safety in mind this winter, and with uncertainty over the availability of the Atrium due to redevelopment plans, the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market felt it prudent to secure a different location with more space, better access and an easier customer flow,” TWFM Manager Steve Ridler stated.
“After reviewing many options around the city and region, we have decided to move to the vacant Price Chopper grocery store in Lansingburgh for the season. This allows us to keep the winter market in Troy and locate to an area in need of fresh food alternatives. We’re looking forward to being in Lansingburgh for the winter and then returning downtown in the spring,” Ridler noted.
In accordance with New York state’s current COVID-19 guidelines, the Lansingburgh store will have a capacity of 200 at any one time. After counting the vendors and staff, space will be able to safely accommodate approximately 120 customers at a time with ample room for social distancing.
Customers can arrive at any time during market hours. When the market reaches capacity, arriving customers will be asked to wait in line outside the store. Recognizing that temperatures are dropping, the market is looking at ways to manage the line safely. One solution may include an SMS (text) notification waitlist, similar to those used by restaurants, allowing customers to wait in their car in the store’s parking lot. The market also plans to experiment with Facebook Live and Instagram Live feeds to show wait times.
“Our new location is easily accessible from Troy and the Capital Region by highway or city streets,” Ridler said.
“We have ample parking right outside the store. And we’re also on the new express bus line,” Ridler explained.
Shopping from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. will be prioritized for seniors age 60+ and the immunocompromised.
The winter market will follow all guidelines issued by the CDC, New York State, and local authorities to ensure customer safety.
• In order to enter the market, everyone must wear a mask and observe social distancing. Masks will be available on site.
• Wash stations and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the market.
• There will be a one-way customer flow.
• Products will be pre-packaged when at all possible. Customers will not handle food until their purchase is completed.
• Prepared food vendors will
be at the market, but only serving food and beverages to go. No food or drink may be consumed in the market.
Most vendors take credit cards, all accept cash. There will be an ATM inside the market. The market will not be issuing tokens, though customers can use the tokens they already have. Provisions will be made to accommodate SNAP and WIC.
“The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market has demonstrated over the last six months that we can safely operate in the existing COVID-19 environment and we are ready to return indoors,” Ridler remarked.
“Inside, it’s even more important to follow the guidelines and be considerate of others. Please stay home if you’re feeling sick or have been exposed to COVID, and limit the size of your party so we can provide you with a safe food shopping experience,” Ridler opined.
The market will publish the full list of vendors and safety protocols on its website, https://www.troymarket.org.
Additionally, the market will continue its online sales as well.
In May, the market implemented TWFM Online, a web-based store and contact- less pickup system in neighboring Green Island. The online order and pickup service will continue this winter in tandem with the indoor market, Ridler said, distributing customers between two locations and providing valuable options to suit the different needs of customers.
Shop online at troymarket.localfoodmarketplace.com for contact-less drivethru pickup, order Friday through Thursday, and pick up on Sunday every week at Carioto Produce in Green Island.
The TWFMFarmers Holiday Market will be held at the Lansingburgh location on Sunday, Dec. 13, and Sunday, Dec. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Each Sunday market will feature a revolving roster of vendors, offering locally handmade arts and crafts, specialty foods, wines, spirits, andcraft beverages. There will also be prepared food vendors offering food to go.
Admission to the holiday market is free.
“Last year’s Sunday holiday markets in the Atrium were a great success attracting shoppers to downtown Troy,” Ridler said.
“Once again, we hope to bring the region’s shoppers to Troy for our holiday market and then encourage them to continue shopping downtown,” Ridler added.