When it comes to local food suppliers, you do not need to go anywhere else than the variety of markets that pop up all over Rochester year round. A particular favorite variety for all Rochesterians are the Rochester farmers markets. For the freshest foods from the nicest of local food suppliers, your spring, summer and autumn produce shopping should all be done at the farmers markets.
The South Wedge Farmers Market is the aptly named place to go for the South Wedge area. When I lived in that area, I actually got a Community Supported Agriculture box from there every week. I paid for a summer subscription of their vegetables and bread, and it was the best. Every week is a new collection of tons of different vegetables and fruits, and a loaf of fresh, amazing bread. You never know what you are going to get, so it is exciting to plan weekly meals around a veggie box that may have some unexpected surprises, such as garlic scapes or leeks.
The most tragic part about the SWFM is that it is not a permanent installation. In 2013, it runs from June 6th to October 17th. But, there is a market that is year round. That is the glorious Rochester Public Market, the greatest collection of all the local food suppliers.
They are open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, all year. During the spring, summer and autumn months they have the freshest, ripest, most delicious produce and breads and other products around. During the winter you are more likely to find pickled and jellied fare, root vegetables, and even more fresh bread.One of the common misconceptions about winter time is that produce stops altogether. But it does not have to. The food producers at the market know how to preserve their food for sale and consumption all year, and you can take advantage of that.
There is no need to get the bulk of your weekly food from grocery stores in Rochester. Not when there are so many great markets available, all the time. With the freshest produce, all of which is organic, you will taste the best food you have ever had, and be supporting the local economy to boot.