For the Love of Family Farms

Bemus Point Farmers & Artisans Market

Fridays, 9 AM-3PM

The Bemus Point Farmers & Artisans Market, which also serves as the kickoff to its busy summer season, takes place lakeside in Village Park and offers a variety of local food, goods, and activities. From henna tattoos, face painting, dirty sodas, and live music to baked goods, produce, meat, and prepared foods, the market offers fun for everyone and delivers. Unique in its lakeside location and proximity to local shopping, the farmers market is pet-friendly and the perfect spot to bring the family to start the day, whether you plan to wander through the tents and shops or use the adjacent boat ramp for an afternoon on the lake. Those interested in becoming vendors can take advantage of their free vendor spaces by applying on the village website.

Cassadaga Farmers Market

Sundays, 12:30 PM-3:30 PM

Hosted in Cooperation with the nonprofit Citizens for a Better Cassadaga (CBC) and the Fredonia Farmers Market, the Cassadaga Farmers Market features vendors from both the Fredonia market and those unique to Cassadaga. Located near Cassadaga Beach on Lower Lake, the farmers market is a resident-run initiative, with current CBC President Cindy Flaherty saying residents appreciate the market and welcome visitors looking to enjoy a summer afternoon in the quaint village. The market, which runs Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., serves as the perfect way to enjoy the town before the locally famous lakeside concert series on the Cassadaga Floating Stage, which runs after the farmers market on select Sundays from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Ms. Flaherty says that much of the audience attends in their boats, which makes Sundays in Cassadaga another wonderful way to get out on the water this summer.

Dunkirk Farmers Market

Wednesdays, 9 AM-2 PM

Dunkirk, Chautauqua’s Lake Erie destination city, is known as a summer draw, and its farmers market is no different. Besides vendors offering meats, eggs, and produce, there are also local craftspeople, baked goods, food trucks, community organization tables, and a selection of musical guests. However, Dunkirk also focuses on making the farmers market accessible to all by participating in the New York State Agriculture and Markets Fresh Connect Program to improve the diets and offer fresh food to underserved populations. Through Fresh Connect, which is also offered in Jamestown and Fredonia, the Dunkirk market can double the value of SNAP benefits up to $50. Fresh Connect has drawn a wider customer base to the market, benefiting farmers, ranchers, and community members, and includes one day each season where those in underserved communities who are not on SNAP, such as veterans and seniors, can come to the farmers market to receive $50 in Fresh Connect coupons for use on approved food items. Dunkirk’s market already has a full complement of meat and produce vendors but is accepting applications from vendors offering other products. Information on the Dunkirk Farmers Market and its programs can be found on the Dunkirk city website and the Dunkirk Farmers Market Facebook page.

Forestville Farmers Market

Thursdays, 1 PM-5 PM

The Forestville Farmers Market was founded in 2024, following the dissolution of the Village of Forestville and its incorporation into the Town of Hanover. Residents, including Aimee Rogers, formed the group Imagine Forestville to preserve the former village’s historic buildings and revive the once-bustling community they had known as children. Using a survey of residents conducted at the time of dissolution, they decided to establish a farmers market to bring visitors and needed capital to the village area. The project has been a success, and the market attracts people to Main Street during the summer season to enjoy the walkable community, its vendors, historic buildings, and local businesses. The market has live music and welcomes any interested local musicians to play, fostering an open mic feel that enlivens the hamlet on Thursday afternoons and has spawned further events, such as a concert at the American Legion in Forestville on July 16th at 6:30 p.m. Imagine Forestville has built upon the success of the market, making improvements to the downtown area and recently having been awarded a grant from the New York State Main Street Program to further improve and make space for current and future businesses. The market is always fielding vendors, and those interested can contact Nancy Adams Fry at (732) 310-3331.

Falconer Farmers & Artisans Market

Sundays, 11 AM-2 PM

When Nikki Pierce joined the Falconer Village Board, she knew she wanted to relaunch several Falconer parks initiatives, including the once-popular farmers market. The Falconer Farmers & Artisans Market has since become a community staple offering produce, baked goods, Amish goods, and artisanal crafts. Located in Davis Park in Falconer on Sundays, the market has become the springboard for other community events, with vendor fees going towards the end-of-season family community night also in Davis Park. Similarly, the last day of the market, September 20th, serves as the Falconer fall festival, FALLconerFEST, a “family-friendly end-of-season bash.” The Falconer market is always looking for new vendors, and those wishing to apply can contact village clerk, Cindy Capastrani. Ms. Capastrani’s contact information, as well as information on the farmer’s market and other Falconer community events, can be found on the village’s website and Facebook.

Jamestown Farmers Market

Saturdays, 9 AM - 1 PM

According to Kristen Bentley, Jamestown Farmers Market’s Community Engagement Coordinator, the market leverages its relationship with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the regional hub’s support to serve the community by “creating stronger local food systems.” This includes an excellent Saturday market that runs nearly year-round, as well as programs that serve farmers, vendors, and customers across the metro area. Two examples of this network approach include the Mobile Market, which serves areas of food insecurity with a weekly mobile farmers market, and its innovative use of grant funds. The Jamestown market was recently awarded a farmers market resiliency grant, which they used to improve services, but also passed on to farmers through microgrants. Ms. Bentley said that these funds were distributed based on community feedback, including Western New York’s short growing season and the subsequent shortage of local produce in spring and fall, as one of the customers’ primary concerns. To address this shortage, the market distributed $23,000 to local farmers through the Greenhouse Microgrant Program, enabling them to extend the growing season and increase produce supply in the colder months. Other programs and services include the community garden, a farm share program, and food boxes for seniors and Medicaid recipients. Details on the various programs, mobile market dates and locations, and applications for volunteers, vendors, and musicians can be found on the Jamestown Farmers Market website.

Lakewood Farmers Market

Thursdays, 9 AM-2 PM

The Lakewood Farmers Market, a labor of love for organizer Taryn Wilson, brings healthy doses of vendors, guests, and events to the village’s charming lakeside location. Wilson describes the community of vendors as tight-knit, and although they have continued to grow since the market’s founding eight years ago, “it is important for me that we remain a community market.” That said, Ms. Wilson welcomes vendors and guests from around the region and, in addition to produce and crafts, also has a yellow tent featuring special guests each week. This year’s program includes the police department’s K-9 unit, authors, farmer presentations, and a photographer for the last week of the year. The first two weeks of the year, the Lakewood market also offers free reusable printed canvas tote bags filled with community fliers and coupons, fittingly printed by a former vendor who expanded into a permanent location. Ms. Wilson has formed the market into a small-business percolator of sorts, offering vendor spots for $15 a week, with the option to stay for the week or the entire season. This creates a rotating roster of vendors and gives home crafters who might shy away from larger markets an opportunity to enjoy the camaraderie of a community market.

Westfield Farmers & Artisans Market

Saturdays, 9 AM-2PM

Westfield Farmers & Artisans Market, so-called because it includes both a farmers market and a flea market, was begun 20 years ago by a group of residents who sensed a need in the community. Kate Mayer, the current president of the group, was one of the original founders and said the market focuses on ensuring visitors have an enjoyable experience with a breadth of offerings unique for a small-town market. By guaranteeing 40 vendors through its full-time vendor program, the market ensures customers have an ample selection of produce, meats, baked goods, food trucks, and both antique and artisanal goods from local craftspeople. Located in downtown Westfield’s picturesque Moore Park, visitors can enjoy a stroll among the vendor booths under tree-lined paths while listening to a variety of local musicians. Market information, as well as vendor applications, can be found on both the Westfield Farmers and Artisans Market Facebook page and the Village of Westfield’s website.