Benefits of Eating Seasonal: Find a Farmers Market in Western New York

What is Seasonal Eating?

Seasonal eating, also known as "eating the seasons", involves eating foods that are in season for your geographic area. This means eating fruits and vegetables that are mostly ripe and ready to harvest at a certain time of year.  For example, you might eat asparagus in the spring, tomatoes in the summer and apples in the fall.

Health Benefits of Seasonal Eating:

Studies have shown that the fresher the produce, the more health benefits they contain. Fruits and vegetables that ripen naturally and are consumed shortly after harvesting contain higher levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than produce that has traveled long distances and has to sit on grocery store shelves for long periods of time. These nutrients can help boost your immune system and reduce your risk of diseases such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.  Eating seasonally can encourage a greater variety of foods to your diet, which can provide vitamins and minerals you might not normally get.

As an added bonus, buying local, seasonal produce usually has fuller flavor than food that sits on shelves at the supermarket!

Community & Cost Benefits of Eating Seasonally:

Purchasing food from your local farmers keeps money and jobs in your community.  Supporting small-scale farmers encourages agricultural diversity, and helps preserve farms. This can lead to increased food security in our community.

When we eat out of season and outside of our local agriculture, we consume produce that arrives at grocery stores by truck, boat and/or plane from other cities, states and countries. The long journey to our grocery store shelves is factored into the price we pay for produce.

Environmental Benefits to Eating Seasonally:

Money isn't the only added cost of eating foods grown outside our geographical region.  Eating non-local, out of season foods also contributes to greenhouse gases as the gas and oil used to power produce trucks, boats and planes creates carbon dioxide, negatively impacting the health of our planet.  Eating local in season foods can reduce your carbon footprint!

What's in season?

You can use this guide to see what fruits and vegetables are in season in New York State.  Head to your local farmers' market and get to know your local farmers.  Find out what they're harvesting currently and what's on the horizon.  You can also ask about growing techniques, such as if produce is grown with pesticides.

Find a Local Farmers & Flea Market:

5 Loaves Farm Stand-Delavan Ave
70 West Delavan Ave, Buffalo, NY

Alden Farmer's Market
13119 Broadway, Route 20, Alden, NY 14004

Artisan & Farmers Market @ Freedom Run Winery
5138 Lower Mountain Rd, Lockport, NY 14094

Bergholz Farmers Market
6630 Luther St Niagara Falls, NY 14304

Bidwell Parkway Farmers Market
Bidwell Park | Bidwell Parkway Buffalo, NY 14222

Bowman Farms Farm Stand
11259 Gowanda State Rd. North Collins, NY 14111

Clarence Hollow Farmers Market
10717 Main St.,Clarence , NY 14031

Clinton and Bailey Farmers Market
1443 Clinton St, Buffalo, NY 14206

Downtown Buffalo Country Market
Fountain Plaza | 415 Main St Buffalo, NY 14203

East Aurora Farmers Market
123 Grey St East Aurora, NY 14052

Eden Farmers Market
2912 Legion Dr. Eden, NY 14057

Ellicottville Farmers’ Market
Washington St Ellicottville, NY 14731

Fredonia Farmers Market
Church St Fredonia, NY 14063

Hamburg Farmers Market
45 Church St, Hamburg, NY 14075

Holland Farmers Market
49 N Main St Holland, NY 14080

Joe's Farmers Market
11072 Main St, Clarence, NY 14001

Kenmore Farmers Market
2919 Delaware Ave Kenmore, NY 14217

Lewiston Artisan Farmers Market
170 S 9th St Lewiston, NY 14092

Lockport Community Market
69 Canal St Lockport, NY 14094

MAP Mobile Market:
Stops in neighborhoods across Buffalo

Medina’s Canal Village Farmers Market
345 Main St Medina, NY 14103

Niagara Falls City Market Farmers Market
E Market St, Niagara Falls, NY 14301

North Tonawanda Farmers Market
310 Robinson St, North Tonawanda, NY 14120
 
Pendleton Station Market
6596 Campbell Blvd Pendleton, NY 14094

PFC's Farmers Market
130 Grant Street Buffalo, NY 14213

South Buffalo Farmers Market
28 Cazenovia St Buffalo, NY 14220

Springville Farmers Market
341 W Main St, Springville, NY 14141

The Classic Corner Market
41 Riley Street East Aurora, NY 14052

Urbanowicz Acres Farm Stand1417 Eden Evans Ctr Rd, Angola, NY

West Seneca Farmer’s Market
1250 Union Rd West Seneca, NY 14224

West Shore Market
Russell Park Akron, NY 14001

Williamsville Farmers Market
5583 Main St Williamsville, NY 14221

Wilson Community Farmers Market
166 Harbor St Wilson, NY 14172

You can also use this tool to find a farmers' market in New York State by county.  Did we miss your favorite farmers' market?  Email us market suggestions at info@ihgwny.com to be added to our local directory. 

Double Up Food Bucks NY

Double Up Food Bucks NY is a program helping low-income Western New Yorkers get access to FREE fresh local produce. When you use your SNAP benefits, Double Up matches your fruit and vegetable purchases dollar for dollar (up to $20 a day). That means you and your family get twice the fresh fruits and veggies.

Learn more about the program and see if you quality! 

 Related Blogs:

Reduce your Exposure to Pesticides in Produce

Ways to Reduce Microplastics in your Diet

How to Eat Right and Save Money at the Same Time