COBLESKILL, N.Y. — Festival Farmers Market of Cobleskill NY, hosts the last of its regular season special events at the location of McCarthy Tire Service parking lot, 942 E. Main Street, on Saturday, October 14. To mark the occasion, the day was designated as “Harvest ‘n’ Halloween”, which let everyone know that the end of the growing season was at hand, and that some pre-Halloween fun would be had. Several farm vendors dressed up in Halloween garb and the public was invited to vote for their favorite.
An extra special end-of-season appearance was also made by pancake-maker extraordinaire and local food advocate, Amy Halloran. She discussed how to make the very best pancakes possible and showed that, with the extra zip of fall veggies inside, anyone can make tasty savory pancakes as an alternative to the traditional version of pancakes. Ms. Halloran had a book signing while at the Festival Farmers Market, making available her book to shoppers, entitled “The New Bread Basket: How the New Crop of Grain Growers, Plant Breeders, Millers, Maltsters, Bakers, Brewers, and Local Food Activists Are Redefining Our Daily Loaf”. Due to the level of interest, her books sold out. As expected, as past Farmers Market Manager for the highly successful Troy Farmers Market and a current soup kitchen cook at Unity House in Troy NY, Ms. Halloran’s appearance was much sought after at the Festival Farmers Market. This was the last in the 2017 series of “Chef’s Demonstration at the Farmers Market” supported by Bassett Health Care’s 5-2-1-0 Healthy Lifestyle Initiative and The BlueShift PR & Promotions Group. Giveaways were provided for participation in the taste-testing and for completions of a satisfaction survey.
For the children grades 1st to 6th, October 14th had been their last chance to participate in the Schoharie Valley Farm to School Project’s “Farmers Market Scavenger Hunt”. The activity served as a qualified entry for their own classroom in a drawing for a Farm to School Field Day. Winner to be announced. Also appearing on this last 2017 outdoor Festival Farmers Market Saturday was entertainment by Feelin’ Country and the Chef Cooking Demonstration Sponsor, Bassett Health Care 5-2-1-0 Initiative, providing education to market shoppers and their children on fun-oriented exercise techniques. These special guests accompanied the regularly appearing farmers and vendors that, as noted by Donna Olsen, Festival Farmers Market manager and owner, took great care of the needs of market shoppers throughout the 2017 growing season, which appreciate locally grown and produced vegetables, fruits, eggs, meats, honey, etc.: Parson’s Vegetable Farm (Sharon Springs, NY); Bohringer’s Fruit and Vegetable Farm (Middleburgh, NY); Van-Dale Farms (Central Bridge, NY); Cripplebush Creek Farm (Sloansville, NY). “Seeing the farmers thrive and the shoppers enjoying themselves”, states Donna Olsen, market manager, is what she cared the most deeply about during each of these 21 years as the farmers market of Cobleskill. She also extended a sincere thanks to all the shoppers that stopped by this year.
Two indoor farmers markets are still ahead, which pull in additional crafters and local vendors at a time when the community is getting ready for the upcoming holidays: November 10th thru November 11th, “Holiday Farmers Market” at SUNY Cobleskill; December 9th, “Last Chance Farmers Market” at Cornell Cooperative Extension. Look for more details, appearing shortly on the Festival Farmers Market Facebook Page. For more information or questions, call 518-284-2609.
–BlueShift PR & Promotions Group
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