Exploring Locally: The Saratoga Springs Food Tour: The Farmers Market

Eric and I have visited Saratoga Springs many times over the years.  It's easy to find a few favorite restaurants in this city and return to them over and over again.  Today's Food Tour will take us to unfamiliar places as walk around and learn about Saratoga Springs' history.

We meet Joe at the
Saratoga Springs 
Farmers Market.

Julia welcomes us to the Market

 & told Eric & me that we will

 have fun exploring the tastes

of Saratoga.

The Saratoga Springs Farmers Market started in 1978.  Vendors from Saratoga, Schenectady, Rensselaer and Washington counties come here to share the bounties their farms produce.  Seventy percent of the items for sale are agricultural...  Fruits, vegetables, locally produced foods and beverages.  Thirty percent of the market includes beverages, foods, some crafts.  

Joe shared some of Battenkill
Valley Creamery's fresh
Chocolate Milk.

The creamy whole milk
drink is heavenly.








Battenkill Valley Creamery milk won awards at the New York State Fair.  I am not surprised.  Their milk products, sold in glass bottles, are available in some local grocery stores, at farmers markets and home delivery.

Eric & I sample Italian Cheese

at the Dancing Ewe Farm tent.

Their Ricotta Cheese is used in Mario Batali's New York City restaurants.  

Jody and Luisa host Saturday Night Dinners and Sunday Lunches in a barn at the farm. Docsconz Musings on Food and Life published an article on Dancing Ewe Farm's Dinner.  

The foods look amazing!

We visited with Anna Mae 
& sampled her homemade
Sour Cherry Jam.

YUM!





Anna Mae's Jams served in several local restaurants.

Kelley shares Pucker Gourmet

products with us.

Kelly uses Old World recipes

to create Sour Pickles,

Sauerkraut & Kimchi.

We sampled her Sour Pickles, Sauerkraut and Kimchi as Kelly talked about the fermenting process she uses.  The Kimchi is aged in Kentucky Oak Whisky Barrels.  

Pucker Gourmet has been winning international pickle awards...  I am so impressed!

Rick takes a few moments
to tell us about his "honey
of a life."






This beekeeper takes his hives to farms so his bees can fertilize crops.  He sells Honey Combs, Honeys, concentrates made with Honey and Balsamic Vinegar or Teriyaki Sauce and Mead.

While Eric & I eat a cookie,

Marcie tells us about The

Chocolate Spoon's

delectable baked goods.

The Chocolate Spoon sells its wares at area Farmers Markets, provides baked goods for area restaurants and delis.  Marcie still finds the time to bake for people in need of great sweet treats.

Eric & I sample Saratoga
Peanut Butter Company's
unique Nut Butters.

Monkey Boy, made with bananas

& raisins, is a stand out.

My favorite is Almighty

 Almond: Creamy Natural

Almond Butter.

Saratoga Crackers uses
natural ingredients in
all their products.






Their artisan crackers are available in several Saratoga Springs stores.

Dave diversified his Argyle

Dairy Farm when he & his

 wife, Marge started making

Cheese & Yogurt products.

Eric & I shared Dave's

Sweet Greek Vanilla

Yogurt  & the Chocolate 

Yogurt.

They taste great with the consistency of pudding!  I told Dave that his Yogurts should be in schools and colleges.  Anyone with knowledge of how to get a product into a school lunch room or college dining hall, please contact Dave.  

The Saratoga Springs Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Stop and shop... You'll find fresh flavors and spend time with the people who feed us, our local farmers.