Niskayuna farmers market delayed

Manager looks for site after Town Board tabled plans

A proposed Niskayuna farmers market will open next May after a plan to hold it on town property stalled with the Town Board this summer. Market manager Ben Wallach, who started the farmers’ market in Amsterdam, said he will now work with the Regional Farm & Food Project based in Troy.

Wallach is planning for a twice weekly market at either a church, temple or synagogue in Niskayuna or just over the border in Schenectady. He has about 30 vendors signed up so far and is aiming for 40 in total. The market will be self-supporting based on $20 weekly vendor fees.

The Town Board voted in June to delay plans to set up the market, which was originally pitched for Friday afternoons in the Town Hall gazebo. Residents and Town Board members went back and forth about the timing and location — pushing it to Saturday and moving to River Road Park — before the plan was finally tabled pending discussion.

After a Community Programs Committee meeting in August, the town created a survey with 16 questions asking for such information as where residents shop and whether they see a need for a farmers’ market. It was sent out to an email list to residents and posted on the town’s Facebook page. Results are due Oct. 1.

Wallach said he was not involved in the survey and the result may be that the town would create its own market. Town Supervisor Yasmine Syed told the Times Union she’s hopeful Wallach’s market could still be held on the town green since she believes it’s the most visible location.

“Our residents have a lot of different opinions on the farm market — from the time of day it should take place, to the day and location,” said board member Denise Murphy Mcgraw who drafted the survey. “We just want to make sure it is successful.”