April 2016

The festival scene isn’t the only place to find flavor in Rochester, and after eating all that fried dough and Abbott’s, you’ll need a healthy alternative. Nothing says Spring like ramps and mushrooms foraged right here in Upstate New York. Since there’s no substitute for the crispness and flavor of fruits and vegetables fresh from the tree, vine, or ground, we want you to know exactly where to find them. Each of these local resources has its strengths and weaknesses, but all play a part in making beautiful local food available to the community.

Rochester Public Market

With more than 300 vendors on its most bustling Saturdays, the Rochester Public Market has something for everyone. Farmers and purveyors from Monroe county and throughout the region gather to collectively create the ultimate farmers market. The fruits and vegetables are complemented by ethnic specialties, locally roasted coffee, and local wines and spirits. Along with an incredible selection, the thrice-weekly Market Days boast some of the lowest food prices to be found in the city. Rochesterians can shop local 52 weeks a year on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 am to 1 pm and Saturdays from 5 am to 3 pm.

Community Supported Agriculture

CSAs combine a bunch of benefits into one super-convenient shopping option. You sign up by buying a share (or membership) in a farm or cooperative’s harvest. In exchange for your all-at-once up-front payment, you receive a weekly allotment of farm-fresh produce. Some CSAs even include meat, cheese, and other animal products. Your A CSA membership can save you money, add more variety to your at-home-meal menu, or ensure you get your greens when you don’t have time to shop. It also minimizes transportation-related costs and waste while supporting the farmers who grow crops locally. If this sounds like your family’s perfect scenario, check out the local CSA listings at Local Harvest or explore the plans offered by The Good Food Collective.

Locally Focused Stores

Rochester is pretty good at supporting small businesses and shopping local, so it’s no wonder that a variety of local food purveyors are making their mark. Abundance Food Co-op is Rochester’s only community-owned grocery store, focusing on healthy, sustainable organic food. McCann’s Local Meats gives customers access to meat that comes directly from animals raised on local farms in an ethical and sustainable way with no growth hormones and no preventive antibiotics. Hart’s Local Grocers carries a carefully curated cornucopia of in-season produce from New York farmers and hundreds of products made by Rochester-area suppliers. They offer beer, bulk foods, and catering, as well as in-store classes and online ordering.

Wegmans

In most cities, this would be an article about grocery-store alternatives. Having been named America’s favorite grocery chain, Wegmans offers shoppers some great local options. Just look for the “Locally Sourced” label to find food that’s produced by the local farming community and that’s traveled a minimal number of miles to the store. Wegmans also offers up seasonal surprises — like those ramps and morels — that you might not necessarily expect to see on their shelves.