This past Saturday finally gave me the opportunity to run through the Central New York Regional Market to meet the folks at Stones Throw Farm. I was there all of ten minutes but, apparently, it was the place to be.
In addition to meeting Megan and daughter Kaitlyn of Stones Throw, I finally got to meet Kathy Barry and I ran into several other friends and colleagues from around Syracuse. Did I mention that I was only there for ten minutes?
Now that I've found them, I plan to go back next week in hopes that they will still have some of those beautiful breakfast radishes on offer. They expect to have more tomatoes and those beautiful potatoes and beans as well.
So allow me to announce my conversion. I haven't been to Ithaca in a month. This is partly because I've been too busy driving other places on Saturday mornings but it is largely because the urgency is gone. I will always love the wonderful vibe of the Ithaca Farmer's market and I will continue to advocate for a more purely organic and local market here in Syracuse but I now know how possible it is to eat well from the Regional Market and to support the local, organic farms right around the 'Cuse.
Thanks to all of you who pushed me to look a little harder at the Regional Market. I hope others will be converted too.
Update (9/21/06): Kaitlyn is not Megan and Brian's daughter but she is an all around super star and honor student and is of the family that brings us that luscious Toad Hollow Compost.
I finally, FINALLY made it to the Regional Market this past Saturday (we've only lived here since the spring, and this summer was just too busy to make it there). I was surprised by the lack of organics and the overload of other "stuff" (I'm used to the Ithaca market, and before that, the Madison Wisconsin farmers markets) I did find some *awesome* squeaky cheese curds, reminiscent of Wisconsin, and I purchased leeks from Stones Throw (which were made into potato leek soup the very next day). And swiss chard from another organic stand (I don't remember the name)
The most surprising thing at the regional market? Someone selling factory bagged lettuce!
Posted by: Carla | September 20, 2006 at 09:43 AM
Hi Carla, and welcome! Yeah, the Regional Market is different--but as I've discovered, you've got to knw where to go. Check out my post on the CNY Regional Market--making it work. You can find it by using the search engine in the upper right side of the blog. Meanwhile, know that there are a number of folks who hope to bring a smaller, organic market to the University area one day. Until then, there are some great folks at the Regional Market--Stones Throw among them.
Posted by: Jennifer | September 20, 2006 at 03:59 PM
Jennifer thanks for the kind words. We're so glad that you made it down to the market to see us and the pics are great!
I did want to clarify on one account....
Unfortunatly Megan and I cannot "take credit" for Kaitlyn. She is the "product" of Bill and Kristine Guptill.(our good freinds and neighbors - Toad Hollow Farms compost producers - etc.) She is a great help at the market, fits Saturday mornings into being an honor roll student, an athelete, Embassador to the State Dairy Princess, neighborhood baby sitter, and caring older sister to Hannah and Chase Guptill.
We look forward to Kaitlyn continuing to become involved in Stones Throw Farm and the Guptill Family Farm in the years to come.
My best,
Brian Luton
Posted by: Brian Luton | September 21, 2006 at 10:47 AM
Oh Brian and Kaitlyn--I'm so sorry! I even ended up spelling Kaitlyn's name wrong--I'll do a correction to the post. She and Megan seemed to work so well together and they are both so stunning I just assumed! Sorry!
Posted by: Jennifer | September 21, 2006 at 11:04 AM