Hello  my Foodie Friends!   

This weekend continues our 4th of July celebrations that will include attending fireworks, parades, barbeques, carnivals, picnics, baseball games, and family gatherings. The Fourth of July is more than just a celebration of summertime — it’s a time to celebrate our freedom and how far we have come. Many families will be hosting or attending an outside event or taking advantage of the long weekend activities. 

Fireworks have always been one of my favorite parts of celebrating our national holiday. Sitting in a chair and watching the spectacular color displayed is so exciting to me.  As I reminisce about my childhood, there is one particular 4th of July that standouts. I love to tell my decades old story of when my two other brothers and our neighborhood buddies had acquired some fire crackers to add to our evening fun. After the firework show had ended at our local park, we still had the need to entertain ourselves and sustain the celebration. My parents were not aware that a group of us “spirited” boys still had unused fireworks in our possession.  Our friends provided the fireworks and my brothers and I were given the task of getting a pan to cover the fire crackers with.  I gave this “heroic” opportunity to my youngest brother instructing on spy-like maneuvers to quietly get the pan past my mother.  Looking back, I am not sure how we actually were able to pull it off getting it past her. We found a quiet corner in our yard to set up.  Anxiously, we lit several fire crackers and put a pan on top of them.  Well, that pan shot so high in the sky, it landed in my father’s favorite red maple tree and stayed there until the following winter.  One winter afternoon my father was looking out the kitchen window wondering what was lodged in his tree.  Getting the pan down was an event in itself.  However, cleaning it was another.  In an attempt to teach the three of us adorable boys a lesson, we were ordered to get the pan back to its “original” shape and color.  We never did get that pan back to its normal shape!!

Outdoor gatherings were always something I looked forward to. Especially, when looking at the vast number of dishes and desserts that will be spread out. Whether it is a picnic gathering, or a simple picnic at the park, no feast would be complete without a sweet treat at the end. A simple way to satisfy the sweet tooth, is with a fruit-ladened tart. It is a wonderful treat to add with wine or even a cup of tea. Fresh fruit tarts are a beautiful way to present a dessert. The secret lies in the pan that the tart is baked in. A tart pan has low, fluted sides with a removable bottom. The design of the pan allows for a better conduction of heat making a more uniform baked crust.  The removable bottom enables you to remove the finished product by easily placing your hand beneath the bottom, and letting the outer ring fall. Tart pans come in a number of sizes to suite whatever you are making. They are also known as quiche pans. 

Ahhh…I love summer.  Being outdoors and enjoying fun times with family and friends (safely) creates those memories that last a lifetime. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store, to pick up the tools you need to make your weekend an enjoyable one!  Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.

Take Care,
John & Paula

What’s trending in backyard picnics in 2024? 

Al fresco dining

According to the Food Industry Executive, there will be a rise in at-home al fresco dining with the increasing costs of going out to eat. Of course, ‘al fresco’ sounds much better than saying, ‘We’re simply eating outside.’ Who doesn’t like to dine outside on a beautiful summer evening? It’s a delightful experience with a much trendier description. We’ll take it!

Long tables & fresh florals

Long tables adorned with freshly cut flowers in various vases remain on trend for carefree yet festive decor for any dinner party. It’s inexpensive, and layering mixed-and-matched linens and dinnerware weaves together beautifully.

The charcuterie

Charcuterie boards still rock the table, and you can serve them in various ways: appetizers, main courses, and desserts. You name it, it’s out there. They are perfect for the center of any table to bring about a conversation over nibbles paired to perfection. The charcuterie is a relaxed but stylish offering.

Themed gatherings

If you’re creative and your besties share similar interests, consider a theme based on favorite shows and places. Maybe you like shows like Emily in Paris, or perhaps you just want to eat like the French? A French or any other theme is a fun and memorable stamp on your gathering. You can add a little dinner table trivia with questions hiding under plates, napkins, etc.

Entertainment 

Yard games like lawn darts, croquet, cornhole, and others are a lively addition and are making a comeback in some cases. These activities bring a little competition to the day or evening and a lot of laughter and fun (hopefully).

Whatever your backyard picnic plans, remember to visit the Saratoga Farmer’s Market to bring the garden to the table with everything locally grown and produced, including meats, bread, cheeses, sweets, fruits, vegetables, drinks, and so much more. The market is the place to bring your backyard picnic to a whole new, on-trend eating experience.

The Saratoga Farmer’s Market is open on Wednesdays from 3- 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. The Monday market at Clifton Park is open from 2-5 p.m. at the Shenendehowa Methodist Church on Route 146. The Thursday Market at Milton begins Thursday, July 11, through August 29 at the Burgess Kimball Memorial Park from 3-6 p.m.  Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.

Hello  my Foodie Friends!   

Summer is prime time for fun. With most kids out of school, family vacations in full swing, and warm weather to enjoy, it’s the unofficial season of leisure and the Fourth of July makes it the perfect time to celebrate.

With the celebration of the Fourth of July around the corner, many of us may be planning an Independence Day celebration or attending a gathering. Having a picnic with family and friends on a beautiful day can be a time that creates those unforgettable moments and memories that last a life time. 

Having or attending a picnic remains one of my favorite things to do during the summer.  This stems back to my childhood.  As I have mentioned in past articles, I am one of five children.  Having two sisters and two brothers always meant that the house was crazy and my mother would do what she could to keep us outdoors.  Picnic time was a word that would stir up excitement and anticipation of having our favorite potato and egg salads, hamburgers, hot dogs, and other fabulous items that our family and friends would bring to the picnic.  One tool that I continue to use to make some of my favorite picnic dishes is the egg slicer.  The egg slicer is a kitchen utensil that is used to cut hardboiled eggs into uniform round slices. This kitchen utensil is typically made of aluminum or stainless steel with wire blades that slice through the egg as it rests in an oval pocket. An egg slicer can be used to create individual slices for sandwiches, salads, canapes, or other similar needs. 

Even though it is somewhat of a single-purpose tool, I get more use out of a simple egg slicer than just about any other item in my kitchen. Here are a group of common kitchen ingredients that can be used with an egg slicer. Once you realize how easy it is to use the slicer over slicing manually, you’ll have a hard time going back—at least, if you’re slicing a large quantity at once, or small, slippery things like…

Olives

Whether you are team green or black, an egg slicer will make slicing olives for everything from simple salads to pizza toppings effortless. Make sure to place the appointed olive in the center of the slicer and quickly bring the slicing top to hold it securely in place before slicing it, since they can be quite slippery and apt to roll. Slicing a few olives should do the trick for most recipes that call for sliced olives.

Bananas

No classic fruit salad is complete without the addition of sliced bananas. Same goes for banana pancakes. It might be easy enough to slice bananas (even without a cutting board), but having them uniform and cut in a flash is a whole other level of efficiency.

This method works best with bananas that are not too ripe: cut a banana in quarters, so each piece can be sliced properly, then center the banana and press the blades down.

Butter

The egg slicer is your weapon of choice for slicing beautiful, picture-perfect pats of butter for your guests. Cut a stick of butter in quarters to make sure each piece can properly be sliced, the center the butter before slicing.

Kiwis

Kiwis are delicious in everything, from fruit tarts to fruit salads, but not always the easiest to cut by hand. Enter the egg slicer. Peel the skin (check out this link for the easiest way to do it!), cut the kiwis in half, then place each one in the cradle of the slicer to make uniform slices. 

Mushrooms

There is nothing better than sliced mushrooms as a pizza topping or grilled alongside a burger with onions. For an easier way to cut an entire mushroom, there is no better kitchen appliance than the egg slicer. 

Strawberries

Sliced strawberries are extremely versatile and can go on top of anything, from pancakes to ice cream sundaes. To quickly slice an entire strawberry, center it in the cradle of the slicer; seconds later, you’ll have pretty uniform pieces for all your baking and cooking whims. 

Cooked Carrots

Cooked, sliced carrots add a pop of color to many meals, including salads and fried rice.

Hot Dogs

Sliced hot dogs have many uses, including being used as toppings on pizza or a great addition to chili. After cooking the hot dogs, let them cool off, then cut them into quarters so they’ll fit into the cradle of the slicer.

Fresh Mozzarella

Whether you are making caprese salad or simply want to add some slices of mozzarella to your salad, slicing fresh mozzarella has never been simpler using an egg slicer.

Place the entire ball into the slicer for a quick and painless way to get uniform slices,

Avocados

You can’t beat sliced avocado on top of a fried egg or chicken tacos. And with the extra assistance of an egg slicer, your avocado slices will be much cleaner than cutting them by hand. Just place an avocado half in the slicer, then cut it in one swoop.

Wow, so many uses for a single, versatile kitchen tool! Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place to pick up the kitchen accessories your culinary needs. Take a slice of happiness with you and have a beautiful backyard outing with your family. Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen”

Take Care,

John & Paula 

The fresh berry season starts in June at the farmers’ market, and you can find berries and berry-licious products throughout. Discover local products to pair with these seasonal delicacies: cheeses, breads, meats, peanut butter, chocolate, yogurt, and much more. Shopping the market is a culinary delight!

Here are some fun and exciting berry facts as you shop:

1. The tiny hairs on raspberries and blackberries are called ‘styles.’ Styles serve to protect the berry from damage and are edible.

2. Raspberries and blackberries are aggregate fruits, meaning that the big piece of fruit you enjoy is dozens of tiny fruits growing together. These little fruits, or bumps, are called drupelets. 

3.A true berry is a fruit that grows from one flower with one ovary. Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries are considered aggregate fruits since the flowers they grow from have more than one ovary. Blueberries, tomatoes, bananas, and avocados are considered actual berries since they grow from flowers containing one ovary.

4. On the outside of each strawberry are about 200 tiny seeds.

5. The silver color on blueberries is called ‘bloom.’  Bloom acts as a natural barrier to seal in moisture within the blueberry.

At the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, you can discover fresh berries on Wednesdays and Saturdays at Burger’s Market Garden, Owl Wood Farm, Scotch Ridge Berry Farm, Gomez Veggie Ville, and Saratoga Apple. Gifford Farm attends on Wednesdays, and Talmadge’s Vegetables attends on Saturdays.

Baked goods with berries can be found seasonally at the farmers’ market on Saturdays at Katie Bakes Gluten-Free, Night Work Bread, Parchment Baking Company, and Sweet Treats by Jennifer. Jams are always available at Kokinda Farm on Mondays in Clifton Park and Saturdays in Saratoga.

Thorn + Roots offers berry-packed smoothies on Saturdays, and Slate Valley Farms brings berry lemonade every Wednesday and Saturday.

This Saturday’s market on June 29 features music by Chloe Sova (9-10:30), The Acorns (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), and Ethan Crowley.

Visit the market’s information booth to grab a berry-licious scavenger hunt. Complete it at the market, return it, and you’ll have the chance to win a bag with $100 in market prizes. Plus, there will be a cooking demo at 11 a.m. on the side porch of the information booth.

The Saratoga Farmer’s Market is open on Wednesdays from 3- 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. The Monday market at Clifton Park is open from 2-5 p.m. at the Shenendehowa Methodist Church on Route 146. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.

Hello my foodie friends!

It is officially Summer. Summer is many people’s favorite time of the year, especially kids. School is out, the weather is warm and it’s time to relax and recharge and spend more time outdoors. We may also find ourselves cooking outdoors more often. Creating our favorite meat and vegetable dishes on our grills becomes an art of being the “grill master.” Cooking outdoors can be a time to create wonderful and healthy dishes using your favorite olive oil or cooking oil. Spraying oil on your vegetables, fish, and meat can be a method of adding flavor, sealing in moisture and adding nutrition to your product. 

As a child, I can recall the moment my father exclaimed to me; “The time has come for you to help me with the grilling.” Cooking outdoors was the only time my father contributed to the cooking job of the household. He did consider himself the “subject matter expert” of cooking foods on his much beloved outdoor grill. 

The use of oil was always the first step my father used to prep the grill grate. One of the first outdoor cooking tasks my father empowered me with was the spraying of the grill. He handed me what looked like a spray bottle that was filled with olive oil to lightly spray on the rack to help prevent the product from sticking. 

As you know from my previous writings, I am the eldest of three boys (who always found some type of mischievous actions to encounter). With clear direction, my father patiently showed me how to lightly apply the oil to the heated grill grates. With confidence that I would perform the job well, he left me to go inside to get the vegetables and beef that we would be adding to the grill. As my father handed me the sprayer, I assured him that I was “the man for the job.” I did begin with good intentions as I began to repeat the exact motions my father displayed with the spraying of the oil. What I soon realized was that the spray bottle was a lot of fun. Doing some unique dancing, I creatively continued to apply the oil with swinging motions spraying in various directions with pizzazz. As I was enjoying myself, my two other brothers looked on with curiosity and envy. They both soon approached me spurring the temptation that was too great to avoid spraying them. Before I realized what had overtaken me, the spray bottle in my hand had fully saturated both of my brothers with oil in their hair and clothes. My father soon returned taking the spray bottle out of my hands in a split second that flashed before my eyes. At this point – I think you can guess where I spent the remainder of my day. 

The use of oil misters and spray bottles is a small item that can be used to spray or atomize oil to add flavor, control, fat, and eliminate the environmentally unfriendly factors of aerosol sprays. An oil mister and sprayer is refillable adding a stylish gadget to your kitchen. They can come in a pump mister or a spray bottle design. Both will give you a fine mist that can be sprayed across your product while it is cooking. 

One of the designs we carry is the EVO oil spray bottle. It is an award-winning non-aerosol sprayer designed by Michael Graves Design Group. It is a BPA FREE bottle that has a comfortable ergonomic trigger making it easy to use. The spray head creates a fan-shaped mist that allows you to evenly coat the surface of pans, food, or your grill. 

Sprayers and misters allow you to buy your favorite cooking oils in bulk to refill your sprayer. This is an excellent way of controlling flavor, calorie content, and managing your nutrition. 

If you are in Saratoga Springs, come by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place to pick up the EVO oil sprayer or other spray misters we have available. We also have an assortment of grilling tools and accessories. Have fun cooking the fabulous vegetables that are being sold in the markets nearby. This is a great time of the year to be outdoors and to have fun cooking. 

Remember my Foodie Friends: “Life Happens in the Kitchen” or outdoors on your favorite grill. Have FUN (and let the children help even if they seem to get a bit creative with the gadgets)!! 

Take Care, 

John & Paula

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is preparing to launch its brand new Kids Club for Summer 2024.

Thanks to the generosity and sponsorship received from The Christopher Dailey Foundation and Stewarts, along with the generous support of many of the community organizations listed on the Kids Club activity calendar, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market can offer this program free of charge to the community.

Starting Wednesday, June 26th, and continuing weekly through August 28th, children can enroll in the program at the Wednesday Saratoga Farmers’ Market at High Rock Park. Each week, from 3 to 5 p.m. throughout the summer, there will be fun and educational activities to participate in. Children can earn up to $4 in coins weekly to be spent at the market. Produce vendors will offer items for $2 and $4 for children to spend their coins on, or they can save their coins for a larger produce purchase during the summer program.

In addition to activities, the market has partnered with The Better Bites Bunch to bring various educational and fun food-based characters and activities to the farmers’ market. These activities help encourage children to stay hydrated, stay active, and increase their awareness of the importance of enjoying fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.

The farmers’ market also hosts Dinner at the Market every week. Various vendors bring delicious ready-to-eat foods so families can eat together at the park picnic tables while enjoying live music following the Kids Club programs.

The Saratoga Farmer’s Market is open on Wednesdays from 3- 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. The Monday Satellite Market at Clifton Park is open from 2-5 p.m. at the Shenendehowa Methodist Church on Route 146. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.

Hello my foodie friends!

This weekend is Father’s Day. Not sure what to get dad? A home cooked meal with some of their favorite foods is a great way to kick things off. How about cooking something special for him? Many of us have been lucky enough to grow up with dads who love to cook, who have mastered crème brûlée or grilling or taught us to make perfect rice. Others have dads who just love to eat, who will dig into a shared plate happily and are always ready to share a meal. This Sunday, we’ll honor all of them, maybe with pancakes or a special dinner or a thoughtful food-related gift. In preparing that special meal, there may be some cool culinary tools you need to help.

As I reflect on Father’s day, I realize that the most important part of being a father is being in my children’s lives, to show them my love and to support their dreams and aspirations. I always knew I wanted to be a father and consider fatherhood my greatest achievement.  Once I was asked, “do you miss your children being young?” My response was that I truly have enjoyed and continue to enjoy every stage of my children’s lives. I consider being a father a privilege with the gift of loving and teaching them through every part of their lives watching them change and mature. My children fill me with the important parts of overwhelming pride and joy I have for them. Being a father to them has given me the greatest gift in being their protector, caregiver, and mentor. 

Father’s Day is a time to show the father’s and father figures in our lives appreciation and to celebrate those who have guided, supported, and taught us through our lives. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store, to treat dad to some cool culinary tools. For Father’s Day, eat together as a family.  Relish the memories and show Dad how much you love him. I am very proud of both of my children, Johnny and Aubrey, and thankful to be their dad. I once told a customer that I’m great at 2 things: Sharpening knives and being a Dad. I also get the opportunity to celebrate our daughter’s birthday that falls on Father’s Day this year.  The Husband part is a work in progress according to Paula.  Remember my Foodie Friends, “Life Happens in the Kitchen”. 

Take Care, 

John & Paula

Are you preparing to celebrate Father’s Day? How about a hearty breakfast the entire family will enjoy? Recently, delish.com featured 55 dad-approved brunch recipes, which will leave you feeling hungry after exploring the list. So, I thought it would be fun to share a few top picks and see how easy it would be to find ingredients at the farmers’ market.

Top picks include:

1. Breakfast tacos are a family favorite that can diversify in many ways.

2. Fried egg tostadas topped with pico de gallo; there’s nothing like fresh pico de gallo made with locally grown cilantro.

3. Waffles (or pancakes) with fried chicken on the side are a hungry man’s dish and a fun treat for all. They’re the perfect combination of sweet and savory.

4. Hash brown crusted bacon and cheddar quiche are perfect because hash browns, seasoned and crisped correctly, make everything delicious.

5. BLT egg benedict is a fantastic way to incorporate fresh greens and tomatoes into flavorful bites.

Now, check out this shopping list and the various vendors who have the ingredients needed to make these fun breakfast dishes for Dad. The list includes items currently in season at the Saturday market.

Bagels, bread, & more: Bread Butler, Katie Bakes GF, Night Work Bread, Jennifer Bakes Sweet Treats (English muffin bread), and Kokinda Farm

Cheeses: Argyle Cheese Farmer and Nettle Meadow

Eggs: Hepatica Farms, Jireh Organic & Livestock of NY, Kokinda Farm, Squash Villa Farm

Fresh vegetables & herbs: Green Jeans Market Farm, Kokinda Farm, Leaning Birch Farm, Lovin’ Mama Farm, Owl Wood Farm, Squash Villa Farm, Burger’s MarketGarden

Meats (bacon, sausage & chicken): Grazin’ Acres Farm, Hepatica Farms, Jireh Organic & Livestock of NY, Long Lesson Farm. May-K-Mark, Squash Villa Farm

Syrups, honey, and jams:  Ballston Lake Apiaries, Kokinda Farm, Slate Valley Farm, 

Tomatoes: Shushan Valley Hydro Farm

As you shop the market, consider your ready-to-eat breakfast by visiting Something’s Brewing for coffee, Thorn + Roots for smoothies and bowls, M&A Farm for breakfast sandwiches, The Breakfast Nook for omelets and waffles, Drizzly Bear for waffles and other assorted goods, La Capital Tacos for breakfast burritos, Saratoga Apple for cider donuts and Katie Bakes Gluten-Free, Parchment Baking Company, Night Work Bread, The Sweetish Chef and The Bread Butler for croissants, bagels, scones, and more.

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open on Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.

Hellomy Foodie Friends!   

There is something delicious and nostalgic about strawberries. 

When I just see them, my mom flashes into my memory.  Growing up, I lived by a farm that grew strawberries. The last weeks of the month of May would bring the start to some beautifully ripe and delicious strawberries.  My mom used to love taking all of us strawberry picking. Maybe it was her grand plan to tire out her three rambunctious boys or she just loved how happy it made us to accompany her on the strawberry picking adventure. We would race to fill our baskets and run them back to mom.  My two sisters were diligent in looking for the biggest, reddest strawberries. However, my brothers and I preferred to create a “bug competition” looking for the most bugs and different bugs we could find. The other issue was when we did pick the strawberries, it was difficult not to take a bite out them. My mom would often find our buckets filled with little bites taken from several of the strawberries. I have to admit the best part of the day was eating the strawberries.

During our strawberry excursions, my brothers and I, John, Danny and Billy, always competed in everything we did so we would split up to find our own patch. On one of our strawberry picking adventures my brother Danny who was usually the one who got into mischief, was kneeling on the ground talking to a very cute animal. Since we were about the ages of five or six, we had no fear of animals yet.  I said “Danny, is that a cat? He then responded “yes, I think so and he’s wearing a mask!” He was saying “here kitty would you like a strawberry?”  You know what happened next, the “kitty” took the strawberry and bit Danny’s finger. We were then off on another adventure to the emergency room where Danny saw a very big needle. That is also when the doctor told all three boys what a raccoon was and how much they enjoyed strawberries as well. We still talk about that day whenever we get together. 

Being involved with creating a garden or visiting one is a wonderful way to encourage eating fresh garden harvests. Although my mother and grandmother did not have strawberry fields, they did have beautiful vegetable gardens. One of my favorite memories is when my mother would ask us to gather rocks for her garden. Picking out the largest and coolest rock kept the us three, highly energized boys busy for hours.  Another favorite memory was plucking the fruits of my mother and grandmothers gardens. Snacking on the garden vegetables was another challenge for us to avoid. We would play hide and seek in the garden while nibbling on some of the garden treasures. My brothers and I would try to hide and flatten our bodies close to the ground as soon as we heard either my mother or grandmother asking us what we were up to.

Getting children involved with gardening and harvesting fruits is a great way to create memories. Being involved with creating a garden or visiting one is a wonderful way to encourage eating fresh garden harvests. With picking strawberries, we get to celebrate having fresh strawberries and whipped cream. This is one of my favorite desserts and snacks. There are so many ways to use strawberries; you can eat them for breakfast and add granola for some texture, drizzle chocolate on them, or make strawberry cream pie or shortcake 

At Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place, we carry tools to help you with your strawberry creations. One item is the strawberry huller. A strawberry huller is a small kitchen tool used to remove leaves and the hull from the top of a strawberry. Lots of dishes call for it. The huller, which resembles a mini set of tongs with tips or you can get the one with teethlike edges, allows you to push the tips into the top of a strawberry (around the stem), grip, twist, pull, and you’re done. The advantage to using a huller is that you lose much less fruit than if you just cut the ends off of your berries. Yes, you could use a knife. However, the huller is much safer. Another item to have is a paring knife to help you slice up your strawberries. This spring, step into the strawberry fields with friends and family or stop by the farmers market to pick up some strawberries.  While you are creating your favorite strawberry dish, maybe even put on the Beatles and listen to “Strawberry Fields Forever” (oh! I am showing my age). Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen”. 

Take Care, John & Paula

The Saratoga Farmers’ Market started in 1978 with a small group of farmers opening the first area market in a parking lot. They appear to be the first farmers’ market in Saratoga and the surrounding Capital Region. The market has gone on to serve the community for over 46 years and is in constant motion, growing and changing.

They have become a 501(c)3, as well as a small business incubator and area host that provides an opportunity to bring locally grown and produced goods to the area. They now host indoor and outdoor markets, striving to serve their membership and the community year-round.

The market is at an exciting growth point and is striving to add to its growing list of free programs for the community. This includes educational events, a kids club, weekly entertainment, festivals, cooking demos, the SNAP/EBT program, and expanding SNAP benefits at satellite markets in Clifton Park and Milton.

Growth and expansion require funding, and the market is excited to announce that the American Farmland Trust is offering a $5,000 prize to the farmers’ market of the people’s choice. The market wants to get the word out to the public and ask for your vote.

It’s easy and takes a few minutes. Please consider visiting markets.farmland.org. Look on the site for America’s Farmers’ Market Celebration and click ‘vote now’ to cast your vote.

Please vote for the first option listing the Saratoga Farmers’ Market. Every vote counts, and we hope to be the People’s Choice for 2024, striving to continue to serve the community in new ways.

Visit our markets throughout the year:

• Saturday outdoor market at High Rock Park, Saratoga Springs (May through October, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

• Wednesday outdoor market at High Rock Park, Saratoga Springs (May through October, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

• Monday outdoor satellite market at Shenendehowa Methodist Church, Clifton Park (June through Mid-October, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

• Thursday outdoor satellite market at Burgess-Kimball Memorial Park, Milton (July 11 through the end of August, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

• Saturday indoor markets at Wilton Mall, Saratoga (November through April, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) 

The Saratoga Farmers Market is 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays in the food court of the Wilton Mall. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for previews of what’s fresh.