ITHACA, N.Y. –– After being cancelled last summer due to COVID-19, the downtown Ithaca Farmer’s Market is back.
Held annually on Summer Tuesdays, the Dewitt Park Farmers Market operates as an extension of the market held at Steamboat Landing. However, economic hardship as a result of the pandemic led to the closure of the downtown location.
Reopened as of June 1, 2021 tents are set up from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m every Tuesday. However, it’s been a slow start—since reopening, only two vendors have ventured to the park, Sarah Klimek with Nook and Cranny Farm and Siobhan Stack who has opened Vonnie’s Kitchen.
Nook and Cranny also has a stand at Steamboat Landing. Klimek, who is new to Nook and Cranny but familiar with its struggles, says the owners have relied heavily on community support to make it through the pandemic.
“It has been an adventure so far but we’ve come out stronger,” she said.
Klimek also added that despite the ongoing pandemic, people have continued to place produce orders with the farm, which grows a wide variety of veggies, greens and more. Find out more about their farm shares and market offerings here.
Stack is also new to the farmer’s market this year. While she only runs Vonnie’s Kitchen at the Dewitt Park location on Tuesdays, she said she has enjoyed the opportunity so far, although business for both Vonnie’s and Nook and Cranny has been slow.
Vonnie’s Kitchen serves Latin and Caribbean style dishes such as pollo asado which Stack occasionally alternatives with beef. She hopes to eventually introduce Jamaican dishes to the mix as well.
“It was a leap of faith for me,” Stack said. “I love to cook and wanted an opportunity to share that with the community.”
Find Vonnie’s Kitchen menu and other ways to order here.
Again, since the Dewitt market has opened, Klimek and Stack have been the only two vendors at the park. Both said that they hope to see business pick up and that more vendors join them as the summer continues.