WINTER MARKET
Troy Farmers Market moves indoors, enjoys continued success
TROY, N.Y. » The city’s famous farmers’ market has moved indoors to the Atrium on 3rd Avenue for the season, continuing to serve the community with close to 100 vendors offering fresh, locally grown and made products. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Winter Farmers’ Market.
In addition to the many vendors, the market also has a full schedule of musicians providing live performances. Musicians are currently booked through the end of December. Many area performers look forward to their Saturday gigs as much as the crowds do.
One of the features of the Troy Farmers’ Market is the use of tokens for patrons who don’t have cash. The tokens don’t expire, although they can only be used at the market. Patrons wishing to buy tokens can swipe a credit, debit, SNAP, or EBT card at the token table and purchase as many dollar tokens as they want. SNAP and EBT customers will also get additional coupons for every $5 spent, although the coupons can only be used on fresh foods. Also, available are seasonal checks from the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.
This token system is in place at any New York state farmers’ market run
In addition to the many vendors, the market also has a full schedule of musicians providing live performances.
by the Farmers’ Market Federation.
“We’re trying to encourage more and more of this use,” said Market Manager Steve Ridler. “We’re working hard to fight the food desert in Troy, making fresh foods available at prices comparable to supermarkets.”
“We also work closely with Squash Hunger,” Assistant Market Manager Brenna Healey explained. “Surplus foods are donated to local food banks.”
The Winter Farmers’ Market was established just 2 years after the Waterfront Farmers’ Market began. The Waterfront Market grew so quickly that a year-round presence was demanded. The Winter Farmers’ Market is now a staple of the Troy community, just as popular as its warm-weather counterpart, and continues to draw large crowds year after year.
“Most Saturdays, we have the intention of going,” said market patron Sara Zahler. “The outdoor market has more food, and I think it’s busier. This is a really nice location, though.”
“The outdoor location feels like a festival,” added her partner Bill Bryan. “This feels like a convention.”
The Winter Market has several features and promotions, unique to its time of year, including a Toys for Tots table and appearances by “Trotter,” the Troy Turkey Trot mascot. It is also almost universally regarded as a totally different experience for the vendors.
“It’s a little tighter on space, and there’s limitations on what we can offer based on what we grow this time of year,” explained Slack Hollow Farm vendor Kalon Jacobs-Johnson. Slack Hollow Farm has been at the Winter Farmers’ Market since its inception.
“But we do really well around Thanksgiving and Christmas,” added coworker Olivia McKee.
“Yeah, the holiday markets are big - there’s nothing like them that can compare in the summer market,” agreed JacobsJohnson.
Marge Randle, with Argyle Cheese Farmer and at the Winter Farmers’ Market for the 13th year, felt similarly. “It’s a completely different market,” she said. “I like that I’m out of the cold and don’t have to put up tents.”
“It’s a great community,” remarked patron Liz Vogel, as she watched her 3-yearold daughter, Norah, dance to the music of Shelving Rock. “We come every week. Norah loves the music, and I love the Atrium in the wintertime - it’s such a bright space.”
The market will remain indoors until the end of April when it finally becomes warm enough to once again spend a Saturday morning outside. Until then, the Atrium will provide shelter for vendors, musicians, and shoppers alike, every week from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.