East End Farmers Market - Go Local!

In earlier posts (post 1 and post 2), I mentioned information about community members working together to bring a new “local only” farmers market to Cortland. The earlier postings indicated that, at that time, they were thinking of having the market at the former Cortland Corset Factory parking lot. Things have firmed up a bit more and the location has settled on Dexter Park in the East side of Cortland. The aptly named “East End Farmers Market” will run 19 Saturdays beginning June 13. They already have vendors signed on that will provide local meats, organic vegetables, flowers, and other local products. All vendors have to be within 30 miles of Cortland and are encouraged to use sustainable practices. In addition, Coffee Mania will run a kiosk to provide coffee and prepared foods for market patrons. Tammie Whitson, co-owner of Cold Brook Farm in Marathon, will also offer fiber workshops at the market for those who would like to learn the processes of taking wool from sheep to finished garment.

I encourage individuals who might be thinking about being a vendor to contact Tammie Whitson or Lisa Lickona (contact info on the East End Famers Market website). In addition, both Tammie and Lisa have contact info on the other Cortland County Farmers markets, Downtown Cortland Farmers Market, Virgil Farmers Market, and the Cincinnatus Famers Market.

I’m sure Tammie and Lisa would also like to hear from those of you who, like me, are waiting anxiously for June 13th to be a patron of this new weekly Cortland event. This expanding support can provide them with contacts and additional vendor possibilities. As Cortland continues to "grow" in providing a more local food supply, it will improve not only our health and the health of the Earth, but also improve our ecomomy. Take a look at this report from Illinois that found how increasing local foods increases local jobs and revitalizes rural economies.