Shani Francese-Smith, owner of Sissy’s Café, said even though their café opened during the farmers’ market last year and was consistently blocked by a vendor with a box truck, she still does not want to see it move. “We love the farmers’ market,” said Francese-Smith. “We don’t want them to move. We want to see them stay.”
Success expected
Market manager Lori Hylton said the market will still draw over 2,000 people per day. “People will still continue to walk down the street,” she said. Hylton said that she is open to any conversation with worried business owners to create measures to direct pedestrians down the street.
Hylton said on opening day, Saturday, May 25, there will be 400 basil plants or nasturtium plants from Cornell Cooperative Extension, which will have gardeners present to answer questions as well. Hylton said they are handing out new maps as well as the Kingston Vortex map with information on local businesses. The market will run from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. every Saturday through much of November.
The second Midtown Farmer’s Market will again be hosted at the former Kings Inn site on upper Broadway. It’s scheduled to begin Tuesday, May 28, and will run from 3-7 p.m., kicking off with a special dance event produced by Center for Creative Education featuring Kingston City School District and parochial school students.
Block Factory Tamales, Bob Hamley’s Barrel Pickles, Fitzgerald Farms, Migliorelli’s Farm and Wright’s Farm are all new vendors this year. The urban South Pine Street farm will sell organic produce grown right in Midtown. The Queens Galley Soup Kitchen will be hosting cooking demonstrations for those befuddled shoppers wondering what to do with the fresh contents of their shopping bag.
According Hylton, the markets will continue to accept SNAP, EBT and WIC benefits, with an extra bonus from a state Fresh Connections grant which will match $2 to every $5 of EBT monies spent at market, increasing the purchasing power nearly 40 percent. Hylton reported that last year’s market saw a spike in sales from the Fresh Connections matching initiative. This year, several social service organizations will have caseworkers bring their clients to the market to acquaint them with how to shop there with their benefits and purchase fresh foods. YWCA’s Girl Power Inc. program has been working on food initiatives and will also visit the farmers market several times as well.
Hylton said the Midtown market, started last year, is still in its infant stages of development. The market will have live or DJ music every week, she said, however they are hoping to attract more local musicians to perform.
For more information, a complete vendors list and a schedule of farm market events, visit Kingstonfarmersmarket.org. Musicians interested in performing at the Midtown market should e-mail [email protected].
While it can’t be predicted how this change in location will turn out, it’s good to explore new ideas. Would converting the length of Wall Street from Main to North Front Streets into a pedestrian mall during the farmers market be a good thing? Besides location changes, there might be other, more creative strategies to enhance the farmers market.
TBH, this seems like a disaster in the making. The church is all in favor of it now until prospective wedding planners start realizing “if we do a Saturday wedding, nobody will be able to find parking anywhere close to the ceremony, and all our outdoor pictures will have box trucks in them,” and start avoiding the Church.
And traffic flow is going to be horrible. Open up the area in google maps, paying attention to the one way streets and ask yourself, “how would I find convenient parking? What would my loop-around-and-try-again path look like if i had to go back around to find another spot?”, as compared to what it looks like now.
Worst. Idea. Ever.
Would love some updated info on the farmer’s market. Their site still has 2012 information on it.
Plenty of room” Kingston plaza parking ocean of asphalt over to the west of fair st. After it descends north to Schwann, one can lead horses to drink, maybe , but habits ? Good luck.