Why Shop at the Market?

The Market helps to support our regional producers, keeping local dollars circulating locally, and helping to preserve open space. While the number of large farms is dwindling, the number of small farms is actually on the rise. Many of these farmers market their produce directly to consumers, locally. Consumers actively support these farmers by choosing to shop at the Market. A Farmers' Market provides producers with a direct marketing venue, while providing consumers with the freshest possible products. Other, non-farmer producers, such as local bakers, crafters, etc., also benefit economically, keeping their consumer dollars local. Area residents have access to the freshest possible foods and to a wider variety of products. Farmers often provide cooking tips, recipes and other suggestions to their customers. They often grow specific types of produce for particular markets, adding to the diversity of products available to consumers.

The Farmers' Market also serves an important social role. A Department of Agriculture program provides special coupons to Social Services senior clients and WIC (Women, Infants, Children) clients, to be used exclusively for fresh vegetables and fruits at Farmers' Markets. Nutritionally at-risk mothers, young children and seniors are eligible for these coupons. Nutrition education is also a regular element of the market. The Market is also developing a gleaning program with vendors, to provide local soup kitchens with fresh produce on a regular basis.

The Farmers' Market helps to make Suffern a place to be. Its development in tandem with the ongoing downtown revitalization adds to the growth of the entire community. The Market includes entertainment - storytellers, musicians, cooking demos by local chefs - all things which bring folks to downtown, to spend time, to foster a sense of community and a sense of place. The Market has visibly increased pedestrian traffic and has made downtown Suffern more visible to outsiders, as well as to its own residents.