Chenango Bounty: Farmer’s Market at Your Door

NORWICH – The dairy products were a vibrant white, the bread felt and smelled freshly baked, the veggies had that fresh from the ground and cold storage solidness to them and the beef had a red vibrancy to it. And it all came from Chenango and surrounding County farmers (and bakers.) Our farmers, our neighbors, people whose life work adds to the quality of life we all enjoy. The open space they create, the taxes they pay, the concern they have for the land, their livestock and the streams that pass through their farms. Like all of us they have their challenges and some are better equipped to deal with protecting their and our precious resources but it was clear from the first “Chenango Bounty: Farmers Market at Your Door” delivery that these farmers took great pride in the products they produced. Over $1,000 sold: dairy products from Evans Farmhouse, produce from Norwich Meadows and Lamb Quarters Farm, all from Chenango County; beef from Maple Avenue Farm, Madison County; and baked goods from Ithaca Bakery, Tompkins County. These were the sources of goodness from our region. And of that $1,037 of food sold $800 went into the pockets of the farmers from that first delivery.

It occurs to me, why wouldn’t we buy our food from local farmers? Why wouldn’t we want them to get a fair retail price for what they labor to produce? If we can benefit from the bounty they provide why shouldn’t I be willing to make the commitment to buy locally grown and produced food and benefit from the added freshness, the added goodness? After all, I like knowing where my food dollar goes and I like knowing to whom it goes. I like the idea that my food dollar can roll into contributing to the quality of life of my family and that of my neighbors. “Chenango Bounty” is being coordinated by the Chenango Agricultural Development Council, which is partnering with Central NY RC&D, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Chenango Cooperative Extension, Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship, Huot Hills Farm, Norwich Meadows Farm and ID Marketing. This strong partnership was able to attract funding from the Chenango County Legislature Economic Development Committee and the New York Farm Viability Institute that will help sustain the effort for a minimum of two years.