Skip the chain grocery stores for this year’s Thanksgiving feast and instead choose to support your local farmers! Why should you buy and eat local foods? Locally grown foods have higher nutrient values, promote a safer food supply and are full of flavor. Buying from your neighborhood producers also supports your area’s economy and preserves the environment.
Chautauqua Area
Abers Acres
Rt. 394, Kennedy, NY
716-267-2431
AbersAcres.com
Abers Acres is a family enterprise established in 1984 and managed by the Abers family. If you are looking for a place to purchase fresh and delicious, home grown and local grown fruit and vegetables Abers Acres is the place for you! With over 100 acres of prime agricultural land producing USDA Certified Organic produce, this is the one stop shop for all of your side-dish needs this Thanksgiving. Although their farm markets are closed for the season, their produce and products are available in the Sales Room year round. Located in their home, next to the main farm market, Abers Acres offers fresh grown lettuce, kale, strawberries, winter squash, sweet potatoes and popcorn, as well as frozen berries from this year’s crops!
Fredonia
Fredonia Farmer’s Market
Masonic Forest Lodge, 321 East Main Street (Rte. 20), Fredonia, NY
Open November through Mid-May: 10am-1pm every Saturday
FredoniaFarmersMarket.org
This is the winter farmers market that you won’t want to miss! 13 locally producing vendors attend each week’s market providing you the opportunity to purchase everything from certified organic fresh shiitake to gourmet granola. A few vendors that would make a flavorful addition to your Thanksgiving table this year include:
Avid Farms: AvidFarms.com Specializing in pasture-raised, all natural chicken and turkey, this Sheridan, NY farm focuses on good environmental stewardship. Although it is too late to reserve a whole turkey for this year’s Thanksgiving, they do have split breasts, legs, wings and neck/back in stock! Plan early for next year’s feast and reserve an ethically-raised, chemical free turkey from this environmentally conscious farm today! They also have fresh baked goods, 100% whole wheat bread, and other seasonal produce on sale at the Fredonia Farmer’s Market.
Green Heron Growers: GreenHeronGrowers.com Owned and operated by Steve & Julie Rockcastle, this certified organic farm offers 100% grass fed beef cuts, certified organic fresh shiitake mushrooms, chicken whole and in parts, scallions, celery, peppers, Shiitake barley soup, shiitake hazelnut pate, mushroom medicinal tinctures, lard & tallow, and tart cherry juice.
Roo Haven Farm: RooHavenFarm.com A small, family-owned farm specializing in pasture-raised birds that forage on 10-acres of pasture grasses! At the market they offer organic turkey and chicken in whole and split half sizes; certified organic Berkshire pork (Canadian, Cottage and slab bacon, pork chops, shoulder roasts, breakfast sausage, mild Italian sausage, Chorizo, pork fat, pork bones, ham steaks and ribs); Certified Organic eggs, and gourmet granola made with organic ingredients. They also feature raw milk cheese from Milky Way Meadows, yogurt from Lapp Dairy, and tart cherry juice from Singer Farm Naturals.
Toboggan Hill Farm: TobogganHillFarm.com Owned by Mike and Donna Eisenstat, the Tobaggan Hill Farm will have eggs, potatoes, lettuce and greens, and pork products (ham, Canadian bacon, roasts, ribs) all available for purchase.
Ellicottville
Canticle Farm Market
3809 Old State Road, Allegany, NY
Until November 24th: Open Tuesday and Friday from 2-6pm
After November 24th: Open every other Tuesday from 2 pm – 6 pm.
CanticleFarm.org
There’s a lot more to Canticle Farm Market than Certified Naturally Grown produce! Founded in 2001 by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, this non-profit “Community Supported Agriculture” Farm seeks to provide healthy, local food and to foster a stronger, more vibrant community as well as a greater respect for all creation. During the winter months, stop down to the Canticle Farm Market to pick up locally sourced vegetables including hot peppers, potatoes, beets, radishes, leeks, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, garlic, onions, winter squash and more! They are also joined by over 10 other local vendors throughout the winter months, so you never know what else you can find at this certified organic shop for this year’s Holiday spread!
Cuba
Cuba Cheese Shoppe
53 Genesee Street, Cuba, NY
Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 6 pm
Saturday – Sunday 8:30 am – 5 pm
CubaCheese.com
There is no place in the Northeast to purchase the cheese for your hors d’oeuvres this Thanksgiving other than the locally produced Cuba Cheese Shoppe! Nestled in the farmlands of southwestern New York where cheese has been a principle product since the late 1800’s, Cuba was once recognized as the “cheese center of the world”. One of the main goals of the Cuba Cheese Shoppe is and always has been to promote the wonderful New York State Cheddar cheeses that originated in 1887 at the Ackerly and Sills Plant. According to the Shoppe, “the demand for New York State cheese has been and is due in large measure to its characteristically unique flavor, a certain sharpness. This distinctiveness is attributed to the soil and water peculiar to this area near the Great Lakes. Because of the fodder and the water that the cows get here, they give milk that makes cheese with a distinctive sharp flavor.” In order to feature locally produced Cuba cheese on your table, choose either mozzarella or provolone, or if you’d prefer the Great Lakes regional cheese try the cheddar or cheese curd. Visit the Shoppe to select from other locally sourced products from around the area including honey, chocolate, sauces, Amish goods, jellies and jams, mustards, BBQ sauces, and more!
Yorkshire
Plato Dale Farm
5249 Curriers Rd, Arcade, NY
PlatoDaleFarm.org
Don’t miss out on one of the last chances to get a locally sourced turkey for this year’s Thanksgiving meal! Plato Dale Farm is a small family farm that raises 100% grassfed beef, pasture raised chickens and turkeys that are fed certified organic grains and they manage fruits and vegetables to organic standards. Visit them at the Elmwood-Bidwell Market this Saturday (November 21st, 2015) from 9am-1pm to claim one of their naturally raised turkeys! They will also be attending the Buffalo State College Indoor Winter Market throughout the month of December if you choose to feature locally sourced foods during the Christmas holiday as well! (Buckham Hall, A-Wing, December 5th, 12th and 19th). Besides birds, they will also be stocked up on vegetables including 9 varieties of winter squash, potatoes, carrots, sweet and storage onions, sweet potatoes, red green and savoy cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, arugula, cutting celery, parsley and more!
Bradford
Bell’s Meat & Poultry
401 North Fraley Street, Kane, PA
Open Monday-Sat 9-6pm Sunday 9-5
JackBellMeats.com
Jack Bell’s Meat & Poultry Market has been in business for over 42 years, offering a quality selection of fresh and tasty produce, meats and sausages that change daily, cheeses, spices, Swedish specialty items, baked goods, and more! Time is almost up on this Thanksgiving’s Turkey order deadline! Give them a call at 814-837-7321 by this Wednesday (November 18th, 2015) in order to reserve your bird for this year! Make sure to check out the whole aisle of Jack Bell Meat’s Spices and Rubs that will bring out the flavor in each and every dish on your table this Thanksgiving. When you are planning for this holiday’s gathering, Jack Bell is sure to have exactly what you need!
Warren
Lindell’s Hatch Patch
522 Hatch Run Road, Warren, PA 16365
Open Monday-Saturday from 10-6:00pm and Sundays from 11am-6pm until December 20th
LindellHatchPatch.com
Lindell’s Hatch Patch is a family owned business located in Northwestern Pennsylvania offering strawberries, sweet corn, cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, winter squash and more grown right from the fields of their farm! Stop by in late November to mid-December to pick up a fresh cut Christmas tree or wreath to decorate for the Holidays! In addition to the variety of items mentioned above, they also sell fresh produce, pork and beef products, jellies, relishes, and their very own, locally sourced and produced Lindell’s Pure Maple Syrup!
Instead of fighting the lines this holiday, choose to reinvest in your community and add a locally sourced dish (or whole meal) to your table this Thanksgiving!