By Ariah Mitchell, Outreach and Education Assistant, PSC Center for Sustainability.

Eating local food, tastes good, and is generally better for the local economy and the environment. Grocery stores are filled with products from all over the country and the world, which does no favors for the environment in terms of emissions from mass production and transport. It is beneficial to take advantage of the local farmer’s markets when possible, both to support your local economy but also to help reduce your carbon footprint. However, as warm weather turns to snow and ice in the north, having traditional farmers markets outdoors becomes problematic for vendors and those attending, particularly in below freezing temperatures. However, two local farmer’s markets step up to the challenge with an ingenious plan for keeping these valuable markets open despite the unfavorable temperatures and COVID-19 complications.

The Saranac Lake Farmer’s Market has made a transition to the Farmer’s Park-It. Instead of being held in the main square in Saranac Lake during the summer and moving to the Hotel Saranac in the winter, online ordering is available ahead of time, and orders are picked up Saturdays between 10 am and 12 pm on Academy Street behind Hotel Saranac. The grocery pickup is touch-free, and your favorite market vendors will be delivered directly to your car curbside. Order ahead today at the following link and get healthy and local foods and products in a safe and efficient manner. See below for link it order Saranac Lake “Farmers Park It” Order Form. Open for orders from Monday night to Thursday evening.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwdxeFvSzNifrpGwZaci1wfmViPWe7n6nbf2ipQ3VfKjMA-w/viewform/

Another farmer’s market stocked with fresh, locally made foods during the winter is Sugar House Creamery’s Snowy Grocery. Another pre-order and pick up style service, the Snowy Grocery is the perfect way to get access to delicious raw and value-added local products that are all derived from local sources. The Snowy Grocery is open on Sundays from 10 am to 12 pm for pickup at Sugar House Creamery in Upper Jay. Order ahead at the following link by 6 pm on Thursday at the latest for a speedy Sunday pickup! https://www.sugarhousecreamery.com/snowygrocery

Support local and support the environment by shopping at these excellent winter farmer’s markets in the Adirondack area!