LANSING, N.Y. (WENY) - The Ithaca Winter Farmers market opened its doors for the first time in 2022 Saturday morning.   

From 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., over 30 local farmers and vendors gather at the Triphammer Marketplace to share self-prepared goods with the community. While many vendors in attendance were new to the market, this year marks nearly a decade for long-standing vendors like Crosswinds Farm & Creamery. Owner Sarah Van Orden Morrow attributes the growth of her farm and consumer base to the outlet.  

“We wouldn't be able to farm without having this outlet,” Van Orden Morrow said. “Having access to both local community members and students and visitors to the Ithaca area helps us to get our product out onto peoples' tables.”  

The Marketplace brought back a fan favorite from last year in their online shopping portal. The portal, created in January 2021, provides customers the option to shop from the comfort of their own homes. Market Manager Kelly Sauve explained how customers can receive their home-grown goods.  

“There's a subset of our vendors that sell and they put stuff in your car and it's really great,” Sauve said. “We aggregate the product for you, pack it all up, call us when you get here, and we bring it out to your car.”  

Ithaca’s Farmers Market has been prevalent in the community for nearly half a century. Sauve expressed how important the market serves as an outlet for farmers.  

“This is people's livelihood and they're just really passionate about it,” Sauve said. “We're kind of a tourist attraction but we're really homegrown.”  

People can shop online from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Online purchases will be available for pickup between noon and 2 p.m. that Saturday outside the Triphammer Marketplace Reuse Center. Browse the Marketplace’s online shopping options here.