by Rachel Hunter
The Gouverneur Farmers Market officially opened for the 2023 season on Thursday, June 1 in the Gouverneur Village Park with North Country community members buying seasonally fresh foods, flowers, plants and more direct from local producers.
The Gouverneur Farmers Market is made possible through GardenShare – a local nonprofit organization seeking to end hunger and strengthen food security in Northern New York State – with support from the Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce. The 2023 season’s theme is “Eating With The Season” and it will be embraced by GardenShare as they help communicate to customers what is available during each season of the farmers market. This June, vendors that provide herbs, perennial plants, flowers, maple products and more from local neighborhood farmers.
On opening day of the Gouverneur Farmers Market, North Country residents were thrilled with the wide selection available from local farms, including O&E Farm in Fowler (organic produce), Fleurs de Psaumes Flower Farm in Gouverneur, Jerry Powers Farm in Hermon, Drake’s Greenhouses and Landscaping in Heuvelton, Trout Lake Maple in Hermon, Fullers Farm in Canton, Edick Homestead in Gouverneur, and more. Also present were crafts from Darque Desires, as well as representatives from GardenShare (with Credit/Debit Tokens and SNAP/EBT Tokens), the North Country Library System, and Fidelis Care. Many North Country residents were impressed that the opening day of the Gouverneur Farmers Market featured as many vendors as the close of the 2022 Gouverneur Farmers Market Season. There is only more growth ahead as local farmers and producers make the decision to join the Gouverneur Farmers Market.
On Opening Day of the Gouverneur Farmers Market, North Country residents also had the opportunity to meet GardenShare Executive Director Carlene Doane and newly appointed Farmers Market Manager Erica Kelso, who also manages the weekly farmers markets in Canton and Potsdam. Ms. Kelso has a Masters of Science in Teaching from SUNY Potsdam, and has enjoyed diverse educational roles throughout her career and is looking forward to sharing with St. Lawrence County residents the powerful benefits of shopping and eating local and how their support at the county’s farmers markets boosts the North Country economy.
In keeping with GardenShare’s 2023 theme, “Eating With The Seasons,” GardenShare has announced that it will hold a raffle to help promote what is available at local farmers markets in each season – spring, summer, and autumn. The spring season kicked off on June 1, but the summer season will kick-off on June 22, and the autumn season will kick-off on September 7. “If you come and make a purchase within each of the three seasons here at the market, and then return this back to me, you can win tokens to use at next year’s farmers market,” Ms. Kelso said. “This will help bring people back to the market multiple times in a seasons, as the enjoy what is available right now – maple, rhubarb, herbs. There is still a lot you can get in spring, even though those big juicy tomatoes aren’t ready yet.”
The Gouverneur Farmers Market is open weekly (June through October) on Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Gouverneur Village Park. Any interested vendor wanting to join the Gouverneur Farmers Market is encouraged to reach out the Farmers Market Manager Erica Kelso at 315-854-3120 or 315-261-8054 or via email at farmersmarkets@gardenshare.org.
Ed. Note: GardenShare has canceled the Gouverneur Farmers Market on Thursday, June 8 due to air quality concerns. The Gouverneur Farmers Market is expected to resume its regular weekly schedule on June 15. Much appreciation is extended to the community for its understanding. Any questions, contact GardenShare.