I am extremely excited about the Broadway Market's Farm to City project. It is an opportunity to help create a market offering the fresh and nutritious produce of our region. According to the Farming Alternatives Program at Cornell University's School of Agriculture, the number of farms in New York State is decreasing at the rate of about 20 per week while the state imports an estimated 85 percent of our food supply. Farmers' markets offer produce in large quantities for canning, and customers are given the opportunity to support local agriculture and meet the farmers who grow their food.
People can stop, talk, and exchange recipes.
Farmers' Markets are also educational centers with ongoing opportunities to gain information and knowledge about food preservation and preparation, gardening and methods of growing produce. A farmers' market, like a public market, contributes to a neighborhood's identity as a center for commerce, public activities and street life. They are community-gathering places and offer participation by the diverse base of residents, community groups and volunteers. So, I hope I've conveyed some of my enthusiasm for a farmers' market. Watch here for more and more details about the market as the year unfolds.