Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office last week announced that winter farmers’ markets in New York have reached an all-time high, now with 120 markets located across the state – a 198 percent increase since the 2007 season.

This is good news for farmers, consumers and local and state economies, according to the governor’s office.

“More and more consumers are embracing New York agriculture as a year-round business, which is tremendously beneficial to our farmers and producers,” said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball.

According to number’s released by the governor’s office, the number of winter farmers markets in New York state has been steadily increasing:

✓2007-08 season: 40 winter markets.

✓2008-09 season: 60 winter markets.

✓2009 -10 season: 87 winter markets.

✓2010-2011 season: 87 winter markets.

✓2011-12 season: 94 winter markets.

✓2012-13 season: 110 winter markets.

✓2013-14 season: 116 winter markets.

✓2014-15 season: 120 winter markets.

Cazenovia has contributed to this increase in winter farmers markets in the state with the establishment of the new 20/East Winter Farmers Market held in the Cazenovia Cut Block showroom on Route 20, as well as the continuing and growing success of the market at the American Legion on Chenango Street.

“Overall, [the increase in winter farmers markets] makes sense because more and more people try to buy what’s made close to home, to eat where they live, as opposed to buying from the store where it can be shipped from other countries,” said McKenzie Hughes Houseman, 20/East Winter Farmers Market director. “You can see it in everyone coming back to homegrown and local. That’s where our market came from.”

Aileen Randolph, director of the Cazenovia Winter Farmers Market held in the Cazenovia American Legion, agreed. “It’s not surprising that New York has the highest number of winter farmers markets in the country. Since our growing season is short, our markets, even when they are outdoors, offer much more than short season fruit and vegetables,” she said. “Many of our farmers and artisans have products that are available year round, such as eggs, meats, jams, salsa, coffee, cheeses, breads and other baked goods. This year we also have a number of vegetable growers who did very well with winter storage crops such as squash, carrots, potatoes and onions. And we even have a few farmers that have winter greens.”

The Cazenovia Winter Farmers Market, which also operates as during the summer in Memorial Park on Albany Street, has 21 vendors currently, and so far this winter business has been doing well, Randolph said.

“It just makes sense for the businesses to sell year round, and based on the great turnout we’ve had, we know our good and local shoppers want the opportunity to shop for local food and handmade crafts all year long,” she said.

Most of the farmers who participate in the Cazenovia Winter Farmers Market, which occurs the third Saturday of every month, also sell at the 20/East Winter Market, which occurs on the first Saturday of every month, Houseman said.

It’s not a competition between the two markets, but more a cooperation.

“We’ve been doing Cazenovia market since 2009, and, working with Rise [bread maker], I noticed these farmers have nowhere else to go. We thought doing it twice a month instead of just once would give them more opportunity,” Houseman said. “And it has. One of our vendors said they are doing so well that it’s increased their income over the winter.”

Both Houseman and Randolph said that the Cazenovia community has been extremely supportive of their markets, and they also have seen customers come in from outside Cazenovia.

Business at 20/East is doing so well, in fact, that with only two months of winter markets under their belt, they have already added a third room for products, Houseman said.

The Cazenovia markets are two of the approximately five farmers markets offered in Madison County, according to state figures.

The governor’s office last week also released a Winter Farmers’ Market Dataset that includes information detailing the hours of operation and location of community farmers’ markets around the state, as well as the name and phone number of the market manager. According to the dataset, current winter farmers’ markets in Madison County include:

✓Cazenovia Winter Farmers Market, American Legion Hall, 26 Chenango St., Cazenovia, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. third Saturday of the month through April.

✓20/East Winter Market, 2770 Route 20 East, Cazenovia, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. first Saturday of the month through April.

✓Hamilton Parry’s Hardware winter market, 100 Utica St., Hamilton, 8 a.m. to noon third Saturday of the month through April.

✓Morrisville winter farmers market, Route 20, Madison Hall, second floor, Morrisville State College, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. first Saturday of the month through April.

✓Poolville winter farmers market, Poolville Community Center, 7484 Willey Road, Poolville, 10 a.m. to noon second and fourth Saturdays of the month through April.

To view the entire Winter Farmers Markets List online, visit, data.ny.gov/d/3tmh-kuni. For the Winter Farmers Markets Map, visit data.ny.gov/d/88k7-ujm4.

Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].