‘This is a grocery store’
Goshen. The Goshen Chamber of Commerce Farmers’ Market opens to crowds, great weather and a variety of locally grown and locally produced choices.
| 24 May 2021 | 12:50
Vendor Sarah Jane Gailie with Twin Ponds Greenhouse offered home gardening veggies, like tomato, lettuce and pepper plants. Photos by Geri Corey.
Spice Beast owner, Bill Corrado, offers chemical free spice blends and rubs to enhance meats, salads and soups.
Joey’s Market owner Joey Katona has been at the Goshen Farmers’ Market since 2008, either as a worker or as owner. He’s on the advisor committee for vendors.
Without a doubt, opening day for the Goshen Chamber of Commerce Farmers’ Market can be called a success: picture perfect weather, local dignities coming to honor the day, vendors set up ready to sell their products at 9 a.m., and plenty of browsing and buying customers.
“This is one of the most wonderful events in the community of Goshen. Here is provided freshly grown and locally grown produce and baked goods. These are products produced by local vendors to have for the citizens,” said Town of Goshen Supervisor Doug Bloomfield.
Attending his first opening day ceremony, Scott Wahl, deputy mayor of the Village of Goshen, labeled the market “amazing,” listing from the great variety of vendors offering farm fresh eggs and Madura’s mushrooms to the variety of breads.
“I’m pleasantly surprised with the number of vendors and the variety. Everything that’s needed for nutrition and health is right here,” said Wahl, who with his wife, Susan, were very pleased with their purchases. “This is a grocery store.”
Again this year, the Goshen market is being held on the front lawn of the Orange County Government Center, 255 Main Street and will run every Friday through the end of Oct. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We’re glad to be able to provide the Goshen community with fresh fruits and veggies and other treats,” said Kristen O’Donnell, coordinator of the farmers’ market. “The Goshen Chamber of Commerce is thankful to the county for hosting the event for us. We appreciate the extra parking.”
Who’s who and what’s available the Goshen Farmers’ Market
Designed for strict COVID regulations — as well as keeping the bee population at bay - Joey’s Market now offers individually wrapped pastries displayed behind specially made glass panels. The great variety of breads, also, is behind glass, with customers assisted by clerks to bag their purchases.
Entrees available at his site include eggplant rollantini, lasagna, and soups, like lobster bisque and Italian Wedding, as well as his most popular item, Maryland Crab Cakes.
Other vendors on hand selling fresh vegetables include S&SO, Eat Your Greenz and Orchards of Concklin, where fresh fruit and baked goods are also available.
For meats, Campanelli’s Poultry Farm specializes in all natural top quality chicken, pork, turkey, duck, geese, lamb and more. Specialty items include large brown eggs, duck eggs and blue chicken eggs.
For spice blends and rubs — great on meats, veggies, or salads - visit Spice Beast. Said owner Bill Corrado, “All of our spices and rubs are chemical free, no artificial ingredients are used, no MSG,” said owner Bill Corrado. “No bad stuff that’s found in mass produced spice blends.”
For great desserts to complete a satisfying meal, visit Scotty’s Pies (apple, peach, cherry, blueberry, and more), Ott’Rageous Cookies (chocolate chip, lemon white chocolate chip, oatmeal chocolate chip, peanut butter chocolate chip and more), Florida Bakery (babka, strudel and more), or Chestnut Creek, to bring home Chef Mary’s famous crumb cake or other delights, like Rosemary and Fig Scones.
For tasty snacking, stop at GO Goats Milk & Cheese to check out among the selection of goats’ milk logs, like plain, garlic and herb, honey, chocolate hazelnut, and truffles, like White Chocolate Coconut.
“Each goat is named and each has a unique personality,” said owner Linda Ross, who milks the goats twice a day. “Some are friendly, loveable, others are cranky, bossy and they have a hierarchy as to who goes first to be milked.”
Her farm, located at 47 Highland Lakes Road, Middletown, is open daily, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests are welcome to come visit the goats.
Let’s not forget the garden. Twin Ponds Greenhouses has a selection of tomato plants, herbs, succulent and houseplants, hanging baskets and much more. A specialty is the “lettuce bowl”—a bowl of growing lettuce that grows back when snipped. After about five times of growing back, the lettuce become scarce. Bring the bowl back to the vendor and you’ll get a new bowl for a dollar less - a great way to have fresh greens for the entire growing season.
- Geri Corey