Central celebrates last farmers' market of the season

Recently customers strolled through the brisk open-air Central Avenue Farmers' Market enjoying the season's final harvest, but the mood was anything but sad.

After just a season together, customers greeted the farmers and staff like old friends, and lined up to buy fresh winter squash, apples, potatoes, homemade bread, pies, and other fruits of the season. Nearby, dancers from the Center for Nia and Yoga beckoned to the audience, and a few brave souls joined them for a joyful dance that seemed to capture the mood of the morning. Market staff and sponsors said there was a lot to celebrate.

"We're very proud of all the hard work and the outreach that was done to promote this market and bring it to the neighborhood. We learned a lot, and we're looking forward to making it even bigger and better next year," said Anthony Capece, Executive Director the Central BID, one of the market's primary sponsors and organizers. "It's been nice to be a part of bringing something like this to Albany."

"We were amazed at the outpouring of vendors and neighbors in support of the market at The Linda. What a great season and we owe it to, in large part, the CBID for making it all happen," said Alan Chartock, President and CEO of WAMC Northeast Public Radio and WAMC's performance venue, The Linda.

The market will return to the parking lot of the Linda, WAMC's Performing Arts Studio in next May. "We look forward to continuing to help the market grow in vendors and in recognition as it is the only inner city market in the area, attracting people from all walks of life and accomplishing great things," added Chartock. "I just love it!"

In addition to bringing the best in produce and goods from local farmers to the public, as well as inviting people to take another look at Central Avenue and what it has to offer, the new market continually demonstrated a focus on health and education. During its inaugural season, the market offered a range of resources to the public, including cancer screenings from Cancer Services Program, health screenings from Whitney Young Health Center, information about healthcare reform, Biggest Winner programming, and Active Generations programming. The market also offered health education focused-programs for kids, including a yoga class and two healthy eating workshops, as well as workshops from Five Rivers Nature Center, The Nature Conservancy, the Albany Public Library, and the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center.

The summer market was so successful that the BID has announced plans to launch a trial " Concept Fall Harvest Market". The new market, which will feature fall produce, will take place in the parking lot of 855 Central Avenue, every Saturday from 10am-2pm during the month of October.

"We have a number of vendors who still have a lot of produce to sell, apples, pumpkins, squash, baked goods, and we wanted to offer them an opportunity to keep bringing that service to the public," said Molly Belmont, Market Manager.

The new harvest market will began Saturday October 10.