Stop by the Oxford Winter Farmers’ Market this Saturday, January 3, for their first market of the the New Year from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the United Church of Oxford, 16 Fort Hill Park. (Photo by the Oxford Farmers’ Market)

OXFORD — What better way to start the New Year than with a resolution that is both easy to keep and super rewarding: Supporting local farmers and artisans. Living as we do in an agricultural community, eating locally makes so much sense. The food is fresher, our purchase supports our neighbors (keeping profits local), and knowing where the food on our plate food comes from feels so good.

One way to start is to read through your grocery list and ask if any of the items on it can be found locally before going to the supermarket. Then resolve to pick those items up from a farmers’ market, co-op or small grocery that carries local products. And with every year we have more of them to choose from here in Chenango County. 

Even in the depth of the winter, there is an abundance of food grown and produced by local farmers and bakers and home processors. Seasonal produce, including greens, storage veggies such as potatoes and onions, mushrooms, cheese and dairy, eggs and all kinds of wonderful locally-raised meats, breads and baked goods, honey and maple syrup and jams, and so much more are all available.

All that bounty can be found at the Oxford Farmers’ Market’s First Saturday Indoor Winter Markets and on the first and third Saturdays of every month through their Online Marketplace. Stop by the Oxford Winter Farmers’ Market this Saturday, January 3, for their first market of the the New Year from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the United Church of Oxford, 16 Fort Hill Park.

For more information about the Oxford Winter Farmers’ Market, visit their website: www.oxfordfarmersmarket.org.

— Information from the Oxford Farmers’ Market