Buffalo Rising Online

Aug 8th 2006, 1:22am By Joan Fedyszyn

One of the many stellar reasons to live or visit Buffalo and Western New York during the summer months is the abundance of yummy local fruits and vegetables. On a gray and cold winter day, dreams of local summer peaches can render me quite melancholy. The thought of a sweet, warm tomato, fresh off the vine, can push me over the edge.

So you can imagine my current joy, being smack dab in the middle of the summer produce season! These are exciting times indeed for foodies of all stripes. Each week features new fruits and vegetables that have just come into season. Itis fun exploring the unique traits, flavors and uses of new items or old favorites. Something as simple as a morning smoothie of fresh local fruits & berries is such a treat. (I sometimes add a slosh of club soda or San Pelligrino water for a bit of fizz and serve them in the cold ipinti glasses I keep in the freezer for beers-on-the-porch.) Breakfast anyone?

Many area grocery outlets are featuring ilocali produce sections. There are also numerous neighborhood seasonal iFarmeris Markets,i offering local communities the lush bounty of the surrounding area.

One of my favorites is the Downtown Country Market. An easy subway ride away, the Market offers downtown residents and workers an amenity that is mostly missing in their day-to-day living; easy access to fresh produce and more. My downtown friends keep telling me how happy they are to have the Market as their walk to iseasonal grocery store.i

Operating 8AM to 2:30PM every Tuesday and Thursday/ May 18th thru Oct 26th, the Country Market is yet another regular seasonal event sponsored by those great people at Buffalo Place. They offer an easy-to-use Pocket Guide to the Market that includes a map and listing of the vendors. This is the 24th season of the Downtown Country Market, an event that continues to develop in its reputation for excellence.

This past Thursday, I took advantage of the beautiful weather and isubwayedi down to the Market, which takes place on Main Street, between Court & Church Sts. I was anxious to see what local specialties were being featured this week.

The vendors, most of which also are local growers, farm hundreds of acres across Western New York. They set up shop along both sides of Main St. where they are able to drive their trucks, which serve not only as transportation to and from, but also as storage for their merchandise. Many growers have umbrellas or pop-up tents to shield them, their customers and their wares from the sun & elements. The sight is an amazing array of color; tables, crates and bushels of seasonal produce, all in its prime, ready to take back home for delicious meals or to offices for healthy treats. For a peach-freak such as myself, this WAS the week! The beauty of the plums (in every color) was enough to make one weep! And can you say BLUEBERRIES!?!? I chatted with a woman who was buying an enormous bag of green beans. She said that she takes them home, washes them, puts them in zip loc bags, then pops them into the freezer. She said her family enjoys fresh beans all during the winter months. Kim, from the Canfield Farms of Ransom, NY, mentioned a special NYS Farmeris Market Nutrition Program, available to those participating in the WIC Program. It promotes ihealthy eatingi by distributing special coupons for the purchase of local produce from area growers at the Farmer Marketis of WNY. The program has proven to be a very successful way for WIC participants to purchase fresh and healthy local produce for their families.

The 15,000 shoppers that attend the Downtown Country Market are a mix of area residents, visitors making their way downtown to enjoy M&T Bankis great weekday Noon Entertainment, and the many workers who take the opportunity to shop during lunch breaks.

I discussed beautiful potted garden plants with Kristen (lead photo) from the Yager Farms of Eden, NY. Cute in her blonde braids, she showed be some fabulous giant hibiscuses that would be a wonderful addition to any yard. Mr. & Mrs. Childs, blueberry growers from Humphrey, NY let me in on a little secret; the Childsi will be celebrating their 52nd wedding anniversary next week. I wondered as I walked away if they would be celebrating with a bottle of their iTani Blueberry wine? Stop by and wish them well! With blueberries in full season, I wasnit surprised to find blueberry pies and other assorted treats on the tables at Schwab Farms of Gasport, NY. The breads were interesting as well as beautiful. Lucky me, being offered a sample of Hanzlianis homemade Chicken Italian Sausage. George said it was their best seller. They also offer a Polish and a Sweet Breakfast sausage that he said also sold well. Debis Delights of East Aurora, NY offered a really eclectic selection of jams, jellies, pickles, relishes and sauces. I was intrigued by the Pepper Jellies and items from the iHabanaro Honiis Hot Line.i

It was a great way to spend a beautiful day, exploring and purchasing some of the best bounty that WNY has to offer. It was also fun having a chance to speak to the growers and to let them know how much we idowntownersi appreciate their being there. Plan on attending the downtown Country Market or one of the many Farmer Markets taking place around the city of Buffalo. Youire going to be surprised at what youill find and youill be really happy later, as you sample your delicious purchases.

Enjoy!

For more info:

Buffalo Place: www.buffaloplace.com 716.856.3150