Albany County Farmers Market to return outside MVP Arena in July as weekly event

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ALBANY — A farmer’s market, held for the first time last year, will return outside the MVP Arena in July, now on a weekly basis instead of monthly.

The Albany County Farmers Market is an open-air market offering residents fresh produce and food, as well as handcrafted goods. The event takes place at 51 S. Pearl St. every Sunday from July 14 to Sept. 29. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be free to the public.

The upcoming market is hosted by the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District in partnership with Albany County and MVP Health Care. Jevan Dollard, Downtown Albany BID’S special events manager, said organizers aimed for the event to become weekly since its debut last year, but wanted to test it first. Each monthly market drew between 500 and 800 visitors that year.

“We really want to provide consistency for users of the market. Folks want the ability to buy fresh produce and farm products every single week, the same way you shop in the grocery store every single week,” Dollard said. “A lot of the feedback that we got from the farm vendors is that they have products that they need to unload.”

Event organizers are still accepting vendor applications for the event on a rolling basis. Farm vendors scheduled for the event include Eight Mile Creek Farm, offering organic produce, herbs, meat and eggs, as well as Mountain Wind Farms, selling maple syrup, candies and honey. The Capital Region Community Investment Trust plans to sell seasonal fruits and berries from local farms.

Additionally, the event will showcase fresh artisan bread from Bountiful Bread, hot sauce, barbecue sauce, chocolate bars, and candied nuts from Eat With Aliens and premium ice cream from Emack & Bolio’s. Artisan products will include Euphoria’s vegan soap, Jes Creates Art’s handmade art and accessories and Sparkling Gems Jewelry’s handmade necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings.

Local favorites like Motor Oil Coffee and New Scotland Spirits will be among others making an appearance at the market.

During the market, parking at the MVP Arena garage will be free. Starting at noon, the event will include live performances from mostly local musicians.

The farmers market last year was the first major project supported by the county’s Innovation Fund. The fund was created when MVP Health Care took over the naming rights to the countyowned arena in November 2021. The contract included $1.4 million annually for five years to support the fund and other community projects.

Last year, market organizers offered those enrolled in SNAP a $25 credit to spend at participating vendors. Currently, organizers are applying to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to accept food stamps as payment during the event.