Local restaurants and food vendors should take note of a special opportunity to sell food at the Saturday markets this year. By mid-June, the market will open a large, 40’ x 30’ hospitality tent on the north lawn of the park. On Saturdays, several prepared food vendors will provide customers a range of ready-to-eat selections; at the Wednesday markets, the tent will be available for special activities and events. Applications from local restaurants and food vendors are now being accepted, from May 1 through May 15, via ManageMyMarket.com. 

This season’s twice-a-week outdoor market will offer a range of fresh food—including vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, meat, poultry, eggs, baked goods, fresh and frozen prepared foods, beverages, peanut butter, honey, jam, yogurt, cheese, and milk—as well as plants, flowers, handcrafts, and knife sharpening.  Many of the farms participating have been with the market for several years, with a few having family connections dating back to the market’s beginning in 1978.

Three new vendors at the Saratoga outdoor market this year are:

• Zest Catering, run by Carla and Eric Kuchar of Mechanicville, selling a variety of baked goods, savory tarts, pierogi, and ready-made meals (Wednesday markets only)
• Quincy Farm, a sustainable vegetable farm using organic methods and located in Easton, operated by the husband-and-wife team of Luke Deikis and Cara Fraver (Saturdays only)
• The Chocolate Spoon, a Saratoga Springs home-based bakery run by Marcie Place, offering a unique variety of cookies, teacakes, and other treats (Saturdays and Wednesdays)

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market Association also runs two outdoor markets in Malta and Clifton Park, which will open in June and July, respectively: 

• The Malta Farmers’ Market will be open Tuesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. beginning June 4th, in the Allerdice parking lot on Route 9 (just south of Malta Community Center/corner of Bayberry Drive) 
• The Clifton Park Farmers’ Market will be open Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m. beginning July 11th in the parking lot of St. George’s Church, 912 Route 146 (near the intersection of Moe Road).

Saratoga Farmers’ Market Association maintains a “producer-only” standard for all of its markets, requiring vendors to grow or produce their goods in Saratoga, Schenectady, Rensselaer, or Washington counties to ensure that products are fresh and unique, not purchased for re-sale. The market makes a few exceptions to this rule for foods not available locally.