America's Favorite Farmers Markets contest
The Saratoga Farmers' Market has been a Spa City institution for more than 30 years. Offering a variety of local produce on Wednesdays and Saturdays at High Rock Park in the warm months and Saturdays at Division Street Elementary School during the winter, the market has become a popular gathering place for locavores, the nutrition-conscious, and foodies of all stripes.
American Farmland Trust, a national, nonprofit conservation organization, is sponsoring a contest to promote local farmers markets and spread the organization's "No farms no food" message, and fans of the Saratoga Farmers' Market are encouraged to take part.The America's Favorite Farmers Markets contest began June 1 and continues until August 31. Anyone can vote online for their favorites among 450 markets nationwide. The tallies are broken down by state and by size: boutique (15 or fewer vendors), small (16 to 30), medium (13 to 55) and large (56 or more).
In last year's contest, the Saratoga Farmer's Market made an impressive showing: first
place in New York State for medium-sized markets, second for all NYS markets, third
nationally for medium-sized markets, and fifth nationally for all markets. 
One thing that sets the Saratoga market apart is the fact that all its food comes
from within a 50-mile radius (except for fish, which is shipped fresh from Long Island).
Another is its dedication to farm products (75% produce only, 90% including baked
goods, sauces, etc.). It's not a craft fair with some food tables; it's a real farmers'
market, run by the farmers.
Saratoga Farmers' Market coordinator Suzanne Carreker-Voigt says that if the market
wins the contest, "we are going to host the largest fresh food picnic ever seen in
these parts!" To vote, visit http://action.farmland.org/site/PageNavigator/Americas-Favorite-Farmers-Markets/best_local_farmers_market_vote.
