JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agricultural Program is excited to announce the that the Chautauqua Produce Auction is now featuring a retail auction in addition to their wholesale opportunities. Cornell Cooperative Extension provides technical support to the Produce Auction and its growers.
A new feature at this year’s Chautauqua Produce Auction is the addition of a retail auction, to be held on Monday evenings, which provide an opportunity for consumers to buy smaller quantities at retail prices. Monday Auctions begin at 5 pm, and will continue through June with the potential to continue through the season based on interest. The Chautauqua Produce Auction is located in Clymer at 7844 Route 474. The standard wholesale auctions are every Tuesday and Friday throughout the season, typically May through October, starting at 10am.
The new Monday events will still follow an auction format, but produce will be sold in smaller quantities. This will allow the general public to enjoy smaller quantities that will serve 1-2 people for preservation or consumption. For example, during these retail auctions the buyer who wins the bid may choose one, two or three plants rather than having to buy a whole lot of ten plants as they must do at the Tuesday and Friday wholesale auctions. The Produce Auction operates like a typical auction, but there are many people around to help a new buyer establish an account and learn about the bidding process. Examples of what you might find at a Monday auction include hanging baskets, 4″ pots of flowers, flats of flowers or vegetables, patio tomatoes, eggs, rhubarb, strawberries, baked goods, gardening supplies or planters. A small food stand is also available. There is adequate parking and loading docks available as well.
The wholesale auction has been an asset to our community since 2003, and offers fresh fruits and vegetables, plants, flowers, and other items that are sourced from local growers, primarily from Chautauqua County. They follow a strict food safety plan that is certified yearly and includes a traceability policy for all fruits and vegetables sold at the auction. You can learn more about the Chautauqua Produce Auction by contacting Nancy Westerberg at 716-499-6391 or nwesterberg@stny.rr.com.
Chautauqua County is home to over 1,500 farms, and more than 100 are selling their products directly to consumers, through farm stores, roadside stands, the Chautauqua Produce Auction, and farmers markets. For a complete listing of Chautauqua County farm stands and farmers markets, or to learn more about the Produce Auction, please visit Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Local Food Guide, “Chautauqua Grown”, online at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua/cg.
—Emily Reynolds, Executive Director
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County
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