The Catskill Chronicle

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (August 3, 2015) – A free, educational publication on local farmers’ market information is now available to the public. The Sullivan County Catskills Farmers’ Market Directory offers a listing of area markets that includes dates and times, location, contact information, and a description of what to expect. The directory highlights the importance of, and offers guidance for, supporting agriculture in our community, and eating fresh, healthy foods with your family.

This brochure indicates whether each market site accepts benefits for the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program; Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP); Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and/or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) fruit and vegetable checks.  In addition, there is a section printed in both English and Spanish that explains the process of using FMNP coupons, WIC checks, and SNAP food stamps (EBT) to shop at farmers’ markets in the area.

Farmers’ markets can be found in and around Sullivan County from May until October, with locally-sourced products including fresh vegetables and fruit, herbs, dairy, eggs, meat, baked goods, preserved food, cut flowers, handcrafted soap, crafts, and more. Some markets feature live music from local talent and educational programming for families.

“Farmers’ markets help to support local farmers and keep money circulating in Sullivan County while providing fresh and healthy foods for our community,” said Melinda Meddaugh, CCESC Ag Issue Leader.

This publication is one of three that resulted from the Sullivan County Farmland Protection Plan as part of its “buy local” initiative. The public can find this and other brochures circulating around the county at various community locations and online at Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCESC)’s website www.sullivancce.org.

Collaborators involved include Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County, Sullivan County Public Health Services, area farmers’ markets, Sullivan County Division of Planning and Environmental Management, and Sullivan Renaissance. Funding for this project was made possible in part by a Sullivan Renaissance Environmental Initiatives Grant.