Eat First

Syracuse-area farmers markets

Opening day haul, Downtown Syracuse Farmers Market

Visiting a local farmers market should be part of everyone's weekly routine this time of year. Why go to a grocery store stocked with produce from thousands of miles away when you can go to a market and get purchase fresh produce, in season, sometimes picked just hours earlier? You'll also find eggs, meats, cheeses, yogurt, honey, maple products, plants, baked goods and so much more.

 

Garlic scapes, Haas Farms, Bayberry Plaza Farmers Market

 

Farmers have weathered a wild rollercoaster ride this spring. It's important for us to support them. At the Bayberry Plaza Farmers Market this week, Dale Haas, of Haas Farms, Red Creek, said he missed the opening of the Downtown Syracuse Farmers Market earlier this month because the cool, wet weather has caused delays in planting and growing. On Wednesday, he had garlic scapes, sugar snap peas, black walnuts and other items. He said raspberries are looking good and should be ready in a couple weeks.

 

Haas also offered suggestions on what to do with garlic scapes. They'll keep for a couple weeks in the refrigerator, he said, so a big, tangled bunch, priced at $2, is a good deal. He also suggested chopping them and sautéing them with other vegetables, like sugar snap peas. One of the best things about going to a farmers market is being able to talk to the people who grow our food. 

 

For best selection, go to the market early. Bring reusable shopping bags and an open mind. Try something you've never tried before! 

 

Following is a short list of Syracuse-area markets. If I'm missing something, let me know in the comments.

 

Central New York Regional Market: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, year-round; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday (through mid-November), 2100 Park St., Syracuse.

Greater Baldwinsville Community Farmers Market: 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday (through September 10), at Baldwin Canal Square on Denio Street, behind the B'ville Diner.

 

Downtown Syracuse Farmers Market: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday (through October 8) at Clinton Square. 

 

Bayberry Plaza Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday (through Oct. 30) at the shopping plaza on Route 57.

 

Syracuse Eastside Neighborhood Farmers Market: 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Westcott Community Center, 826 Euclid Ave., Syracuse. 

 

Fayetteville Farmers Market: Noon to 6 p.m. Thursday (through Oct. 24) in the parking lot at Towne Center at Fayetteville (near Bonefish Grill). NO MARKET JULY 4.

 

Skaneateles Farmers Market: 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday (through Oct. 24) and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (through Oct. 19) in the Austin Park Pavilion parking lot, Jordan Street. 

Cazenovia Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Park, on Albany Street (Route 20).

 

Crazy Daisies and The Garden Cafe at Crazy Daisies

It's the best time of year to visit Crazy Daisies. The flower farm on Kasson Road, off Route 175 near Marcellus, has annuals, perennials, vegetable plants, herbs, succulents, hanging baskets, container gardens and much more to strike your garden fancy.

 

Crazy Daisies also has a Garden Cafe with a focus on fresh, local fare. So the question becomes: Shop for flowers first or grab a table on the porch first and have a bite to eat?

 

On Saturdays and Sundays, brunch is served from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu is fairly simple, with things like French toast (made with Pastabilities raisin pecan bread or brioche) and real maple syrup, stretch bread breakfast pizza and breakfast sandwiches. Coffee is from Salt City Coffee and New York State beer, wine and hard cider is available, as well as specialty drinks like Bloody Marys and Mimosas. On weekdays, the Garden Cafe keeps it simple, offering cheese and olive boards, charcuterie plates, baked Brie and crackers, and hummus with vegetables. Stone baked pizzas are available on Fridays and chicken barbecues are offered some weekend. The aforementioned small plates are also available after brunch service on weekends. 

 

I visited around noontime on Sunday and the porch was packed with diners enjoying breakfast, coffee and baked goods and sweeping views of the lush, green western Onondaga County countryside. It was so busy, in fact, that a staff member had to step out to get more eggs -- the kitchen was about to run out.

 

Place your order inside at the counter and it will be delivered to you inside or outside on the porch. A list near the counter notes their local suppliers, including Rohe Farms, Pastabilities, Dutch Hill Maple, Hiwire Honey, 2 Kids Goat Farm, Small Mountain Za'atar and others. Everything is made fresh to order and therefore takes a little extra time. I sipped a Bloody Mary and read a few sections of the Sunday newspaper before my food arrived.

 

From the chalkboard menu, I selected the garden vegetable scramble (with onion, kale and tomatoes), served with your choice of cheese on top and meat on the side, plus toasted stretch bread, all served in a paper-lined pie tin. The Bloody Mary, ordered spicy, was garnished with lime, celery and a pick holding a couple olives. I spotted homemade banana nut muffins and Half Moon cookies at the counter and treated myself to a Half Moon to enjoy later.

 

Before or after your meal, take a walk around the flower farm. A large greenhouse has thousands of plants and hanging baskets, arranged according to color. Have a garden space that doesn't get a lot of light? Step into the shade shed and find plenty of plants that are made for shade.

 

Crazy Daisies was established more than a decade ago by Jennifer and Glenn Cox. They have six children, some of whom are involved in the business. Jennifer and her team design and plant containers for residential customers and business clients, offer container gardening workshops in season and host special events, like "Yoga on the Porch.'' Both the indoor and porch space are available for private parties.

 

We are in the process of establishing a garden in the front yard of our home on the North Side of Syracuse, which will give me good reason to return regularly to Crazy Daisies and the Garden Cafe this summer and into the fall. The selection is great, prices are reasonable and after Central New York's winters, there's no such thing as too many flowers.

 

As staff member Kelly told me as I was perusing plants: "Perennials are like furniture. You have to keep moving them around until you find the right ones and the right place for them.''

 

Crazy Daisies is at 4695 Kasson Road, Marcellus. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Information: 315-498-5525.  Information: Website Facebook