It’s that time of year: Time to rake up the last of the leaves, time to set the clocks back an hour, time to program the thermostat, time to savor the last of our locally grown produce.
It’s also time to mark your calendar and get out and about to winter farmers markets in Central New York. There are quite a few to choose from, including two new indoor markets in western Onondaga County.
The Greater Baldwinsville Community Farmers Market has “gone indoors.’’ The off-season market debuted Oct. 26 at the Willow Health and Wellness Center on Route 31 (behind Physical Therapy Plus), with a small group of growers, producers (cheese, honey, maple, jams, jellies, etc.) and artisans, according to the GBCFM Facebook page.
The next market will be held noon to 3 p.m. Nov. 23 at the wellness center. Plans are to hold it monthly through spring, or every other week, if it is well attended. Information.
Opening its doors this Saturday, November 8, is the Farmshed CNY Winter Farmers Market at Baltimore Woods Nature Center, near Marcellus. It runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and features an all-star list of local producers.
Offerings will include pasta (Flour City Pasta), breads, cookies and other baked goods (Cat’s Creations, Zimmer’s Bakes, Cakes and Other Goodies), pastured meats (Meadowood Farms, Shotwell Brook Farms, Creekside Meadows Farm), granola (Groovy Granola), meadow butter (Kriemhild Dairy Farms), farmstead cheeses (Meadowood Farms, Keeley’s Cheese Co., 4 Tin Fish Farm), artisan chocolate (Lune Chocolat), locally roasted coffee (Simple Roast Coffee Company), salsa (Primo and Mary’s Heritage Products), jams and jellies (Red Fox Farms), handcrafted soaps (Balsam Rose Soap Co.) and produce from the growers who make up the Farmshed Harvest Food Hub.
Guest vendor at the first two markets will be Good Karma Garlic, with garlic, salad greens and other produce. Guest vendor at the four 2015 markets will be Black Button Distilling, a Rochester-based craft distillery.
Neil B. Miller, founder of Farmshed CNY, a company that aims to link farmers, local food producers and related businesses to consumers, said the market “seemed like the logical next step” after the success of several Farmshed events, including U-Pick Organic Strawberry and Apple Parties at Cobblestone Valley Farm, Preble, and Adams Acres, near Jamesville. Those events, he says, have drawn large crowds, generated sales for vendors, brought producers and consumers together and “furthered a sense of community among attendees.”
The Interpretative Center at Baltimore Woods has high, vaulted ceilings, warm wood decor and overlooks the nature preserve at Baltimore Woods. That makes it an ideal and intimate setting for an indoor market, Miller says.
So head west, pick up some local produce and other products and explore the nature preserve.
The Farmshed Winter Farmers Market at Baltimore Woods is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the second Saturday of the month, November through April. For more information on Farmshed CNY, including its app and directory of more than 1,600 food producers, wineries, farmers markets and more in the region. INFORMATION.
Baltimore Woods is at 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. For more information on its trails, art gallery and events, call 673-1350. INFORMATION.
Other Winter Farmers Markets
Cazenovia Winter Farmers Market
Third Saturday of the month, November to April
Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: American Legion Post 88, 26 Chenango St., Cazenovia
Homer Winter Farmers Market
Third Saturday of the month, November to March
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Phillips Free Library (basement), 37 S. Main St., Homer
Ithaca Farmers Market
Saturdays and Sundays through November, then Saturday only until Dec. 20 (the traditional “Rutabaga Curl” and the end of the growing season)
Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Steamboat Landing, downtown Ithaca
Ithaca Farmers Market Indoor Winter Market
Saturdays, starting Jan. 10
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: The Space at Greenstar Market, 700 W. Buffalo St., Ithaca.
Morrisville Indoor Farmers Market
First Saturday of the month, November to April
Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Madison Hall (second floor), 100 E. Main St., Morrisville
Information: 684-7553, 684-3402 (alternate)
Oneida County Public Market Winter Market
Second Saturday of the month, January to April
Hours: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Historic Union Station (lobby), Utica
Note: Holiday markets are scheduled for Nov. 8 and 22 and Dec 6 and 20, same hours.
Poolville Farmers Market
Second and fourth Saturday of the month, November, December, February, March and Aprill
Hours: 10 a.m. to noon
Poolville Community Center, 7484 Willey Road, Poolville
Westmoreland Winter Farmers Market
First Saturday of the month, November, January, February, March and April; second Saturday of December
Hours: 9 a.m. to noon.
Westmoreland Firehouse, 100 Station Road, Westmoreland
853-5901
Central New York Regional Market
Open Saturdays, year-round
Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
2100 Park St., Syracuse
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Margaret McCormick is a freelance writer and editor in Syracuse. She blogs about food at eatfirst.typepad.com. Follow her on Twitter at @mmccormickcny.