By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
ALLEGANY — Canticle Farm Market hosted vendors from the Olean Farmers Market Saturday for the first of several indoor markets over the next two months.
From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday at the Canticle Farm Market, 3809 Old State Road, people walked in from the cold outside to browse the local food and bakery options available at the winter farmers market.
Stephanie Beneng, Canticle Farm grower and a member of the board of directors of the Olean Farmers Market was impressed with the excitement from shoppers and growers alike to the indoor farmers market.
“The vendors will be here every other Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” Beneng said.
Other farm and food vendors interested in selling at the indoor farmers market should request an application by email at farmersmarketofolean@gmail.com.
Canticle Farm had kale and spinach fresh-picked from the high tunnels at the section of the farm across the Allegheny River along South Nine Mile Road. A wide variety of vegetables from storage are also available including potatoes, onions, garlic, winter squash, celeriac, radishes and beet greens.
Volunteer Kathie Dudley explained to shopper Shauna Keesler of Cuba what vegetables were available and some ways they can be prepared..
“It’s nice to know where they came from,” Keesler smiled. “I can ask questions about them.”
Celeriac, for instance, is a potato-like tuber that tastes like celery, Dudley said.
Dudley, who used to work at Canticle Farm, now volunteers there. “I grew up on a farm,” she said. “I still like the opportunity to get my hands in the dirt.”
Nearby, Cindy Armagost of Salamanca was shopping. “It’s been a long winter,” she said. “There are no flea markets to go to. “I like to support local farmers.”
Beneng encouraged area residents to stop by the winter version of the Olean Farmers Market for a variety of local foods. “Hopefully it will be a good winter season,” she added.
Canticle Farm offers community supported agriculture shares on its website at www.canticlefarm.org. Different sizes of vegetable packages for weekly pickup and payment options are available. There is also a “hands-on” share for those who participate in volunteering at the farm.
The market building is currently undergoing renovations, but is open every other week for eight Saturdays. The next Olean Farmers Market at Canticle Market will be Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., then every two weeks after that.
Other vendors include Country Honey, Winey Shepherds, Brookside Maple Farm, Mascho Homestead Farms, Rolling Scones Baking Co., and Mindfully Holistic tea and coffee blends.
At the Brookside Maple table, Kellie Bernd of Centerville was selling maple syrup and other maple products while her husband was preparing to tap trees in their sugar bush soon.
At the ARR Farms table, Jonathan Ault and his son Mason offered pasture-raised chickens and turkeys. They also have grass finished beef and pasture raised pork on their regenerative farm. “This is beyond organic,” Ault said.
All kinds of homemade confections were visible at the Ronning Scones table.
The Mascho Homestead Farms from Belmont was also set up at the winter farmers market. They offer direct from farm whole, half and quarter grass finished angus beef and pasture raised pork. They also have pasture raised chickens and maple syrup.
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All Rights Reserved. Star News LLC. Eric M. Firkel.
