All Over Albany

Interesting in 2011: Sarah Gordon

Sarah Gordon and FarmieMarket's delivery van.

All this week we'll be highlighting some of the interesting people we've gotten to know over the past year.

We have a lot of respect for people who start something new from scratch. And that's just what Sarah Gordon did last year when she launched an online farmers' market connecting farms and customers in Albany County. Even more impressive: she's figured out how to grow it -- this year Sarah expanded the concept to become FarmieMarket, which includes farms and customers in all four of the Capital Region's core counties.

The idea for FarmieMarket comes from a very personal place for Sarah: her own family's farm in Knox. After using her digital savvy to help grow the family's grass-fed beef and hay farm, she realized she could also help other local family farms trying to carve out a spot in the market. This isn't just a business -- it's a cause. And a worthy one. Think about it: for every local family farm that's able to find its place in the modern world, there are ripple effects: open space preservation, economic development, better tasting food.

So, it's safe to say we're impressed. And we think after you hear a little bit from her, you will be, too.

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The year of the garlic scape

We joked on Twitter last night that it's become The Year of the Garlic Scape.

Vaguely aware of garlic scapes before this year, we seem to be seeing them everywhere this summer -- their green tentacles reaching out of CSA boxes, spilling from baskets at local farmers' markets, haunting our dreams. Maybe it's like when you take note of something random and then start seeing it everywhere.

So, what's a garlic scape? It's the green part of the garlic plant that grows above ground (or, uh, you know, when you leave the cloves too long on the counter top).

Aaron, Stephanie and Christine all recommended making pesto last night from the scape abundance. (There was also a rather fussy conversation about whether that's actually pesto.)

Christine even has a garlic scape pesto recipe posted over at the From Scratch Club -- in fact, there's seems to be a whole garlic scape week going on over there. (What, you're not reading FSC? You should!) Leah's used scapes with eggs. And over at Serious Eats: 7 Things To Do with Garlic Scapes and Garlic Scape Tart.

photo: Flickr user krossbow

FarmieMarket is now open

The expanded version of the local online farmers' market Heldeberg Market -- FarmieMarket -- opened today. The market now covers the four core counties of the Capital Region. ("Farmie" is a play on "foodie.")

Heldeberg Market started just about a year ago. It and FarmieMarket are the creation of Sarah Avery Gordon -- she's an environmental consultant, and grew up on her parents' farm in Knox.

We've been interested in Heldeberg -- and now Farmie -- Market because it looks like an interesting bid to help develop the local food economy. So we bounced a few questions to Sarah today to hear about how things are going -- and where the market is headed.

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FarmieMarket

Heldeberg Market, the online farmers' market that's been serving Albany County, announced today that it's expanding to the rest of the Capital Region -- under the name Farmie Market.

The website says it will start taking orders in July. (And it explains that "farmie" is a play on "foodie.")

Heldeberg Market started last summer. It's the creation of Sarah Avery Gordon -- she's an environmental consultant, and grew up on her parents' farm in Knox.

Chicken sale at local online farmers' market

Heldeberg Market -- the local online farmers' market -- has a sale on chicken this week. "All-natural ... anti-biotic, hormone and preservative free" whole chickens from Mountain Winds Farm are roughly $3/pound.

Sure, that's more expensive than what you'd pay for a "regular" chicken in the supermarket, but for a local "all natural" bird, that seems like not a bad price. And if you're wondering what you'd do with a whole chicken, we have one word for you: soup.

If you want a chicken this week, you have to order by the end of today (delivery is on Thursday).

Speaking of Heldeberg Market... Has anyone used this online market? How was the experience? Were the products good?

Earlier on AOA:
+ Details from Heldeberg Market's launch this past summer.
+ Changing Albany's chicken laws

Indoor Farmers' Markets

The markets are moving indoors for the season.

Capital District farmers' markets are getting ready to make their move indoors.

The Schenectady Greenmarket moves inside this Sunday and next Saturday ( November 7th) the Troy and Saratoga markets head indoors.

So what can you get at a farmers market in the winter?

Here's a list of where you can find the winter markets and what you can expect when
you get there.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

Outdoor market time is slowly slipping away. Get out and enjoy it while you still can. This week: pumpkins, gourds and a few tomatoes.

Here are a few more details from the local markets about what to expect this weekend.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week: Lots of apples, winter squash and other good stuff.

Here are a few more details from the local markets about what to expect this weekend.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week there's a late summer bounty of melons, berries, corn tomatoes and a whole bunch of other fruits and veggies.

Here are a few more details from the local markets about what to expect this weekend.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week: Apples, pears, corn and -- yes-- tomatoes.

Here are a few more details from the local markets about what to expect this weekend.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week: blueberries, all kinds of peppers, sweet corn and even a few tomatoes.

Here are a few more details from the local markets about what to expect this weekend.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week: berries, eggplant, onion and summer squash.

Here are a few more details from the local markets about what to expect this weekend.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week: all kinds of berries, a little bit of corn, and yes, in spite of the rain, a few tomatoes.

Here's what local markets tell us they're expecting this weekend.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week blueberries, raspberries, onions, cauliflower, corn and a whole bunch of other seasonal deliciousness!

On the way out: Strawberries, asparagus and cherries. Get 'em while you can!

Here's what local markets tell us they're expecting this weekend.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week -- the first corn of the season! Also sour cherries and other yummy fruit.

Here's more info on what to expect at local markets.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

Fuji apples and ramps are gone and the first crop of radishes are pretty much finished (though there are more radishes to come), but this week you can get beets, asparagus and all kinds of other good stuff. And there's a new market in Albany.

Here's a breakdown of what you'll find this weekend at the farmers' markets around the Capital Region.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the capital region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week's bounty includes asparagus, arugula, salad greens, rhubarb, and radishes. Lots and lots of radishes.

Here's a breakdown of what you'll find this weekend at the farmers' markets in Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the capital region is shopping the farmers' markets. All the local weekend markets have moved outdoors and they're stocked with lots of yummy, seasonal goodness.

This week's bounty includes rhubarb, greens, scallions, radishes, all kinds of seedlings and fiddleheads.

Here's a breakdown of what you'll find this weekend at the farmers' markets in Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

Local farmers' markets are moving outdoors this weekend and there's lots of yummy, seasonal food to be had.

This week's bounty includes ramps, asparagus, arugula, spinach and all sorts of seedlings.

Here's a breakdown of what you'll find at the weekend markets in Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga. Don't forget, the Troy market moves to its new location in Riverfront Park this week.

Next week we'll have more from these and other area markets.

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