Oneonta Farmers’ Market Moves to Historic Former Train Station
ONEONTA—Starting this Saturday, November 7, the Oneonta Farmers’ Market will be moving to its new home at 60 Market Street—the former Stella Luna restaurant. The welcoming, heated space will house 16 farmers, bakers, and artisans, with room for customers to linger and enjoy a cup of coffee or pastry. The Oneonta Farmers’ Market will be open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Saturday. Organizers say there is plenty of free parking available. To celebrate the new location, the Oneonta Farmers’ Market will be offering complimentary local cider to customers.
According to a press release, Saturday’s vendors include: ARK Floral (floral bouquets and potted herbs), Berry Brook Farm (organic vegetables), Green Sun Orchard and Cidery, Maria’s Upstate Kitchen (small batch baked goods), Max Creek Hatchery (fresh and smoked trout), Mill Hollow Maple, Middlefield Orchard (apples, vegetables, baked goods, preserves), Molto Molto (artisan baked goods including danish, cookies, eclairs), Mulligan Creek Acres (pasture-raised poultry and meats), South Valley Sourdough, Tauzel Farms (beef, Clark Farm Milk), Thistlemint Farm (organic vegetables and herbs, art and gifts), and Pearls by Peg (jewelry). In addition, Azul restaurant will be offering ready-to-eat foods, and Catskill Momos will have ready-to-eat beef and vegetable momos (dumplings), as well as curries and stir-fry. Worms Waste Not will offer food scrap collection and information on composting.
The Stella Luna building was originally built in 1892 as the D&H Train Station, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The station served the community linking it to Albany and Binghamton and beyond until January 1963. After serving as commercial office space, the building housed the Stella Luna Restaurant for almost 20 years.
The Future for Oneonta Foundation is working with the market vendors to make the D&H Train Station building a new community hub. FOF is partnering with Otsego 2000 to expand food access initiatives, like SNAP, at the Oneonta Farmers’ Market. Otsego 2000 has a decade of experience building and expanding food access initiatives at the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market. Currently, both Middlefield Orchard and Thistlemint Farms accept SNAP in Oneonta.
“The Oneonta Farmers’ Market takes a big step forward this Saturday as they move to the Market Street Train Station (former Stella Luna restaurant). The Future for Oneonta Foundation is proud to be working in partnership with the Avanzato family, Otsego 2000 and the market vendors to bring new life to this historic landmark as a future community hub,” said Future for Oneonta Foundation board President Gary Herzig.
Ellen Pope, executive director of Otsego 2000, added, “We are so pleased to be able to bring our expertise in administering SNAP and accompanying SNAP match programs to the Oneonta Farmers’ Market, and importantly, to the residents of Oneonta and surrounding areas who rely on SNAP for groceries. Soon they will have access to fresh, local foods and the money they spend will stay in the community.” Pope added that information on new programs will be announced in the coming weeks.
