Cheryl Rogowski has been part of the Pine Island farming community since her grandfather bought the Black Dirt farm in the 1950s. The ever-innovative Rogowski has helped put it on the mid-Hudson Valley winter destination map, thanks to its new monthly farmers market.
The first one, held Jan. 26, drew more than 1,000 visitors from the tristate area, hungry for a change of scenery and exchanging cabin fever for farm fervor as they shopped local food vendors, watched cooking demonstrations and had the opportunity to mix and mingle at the five-hour Saturday event.
Snoep Winkel Farm sold out of their breakfast sausage early on, while Janet”™s Breads had a fast run on their baguettes and croissants.
“The market is a lot of fun, and it”™s great for the community,” said Anne Rusziewicz from Onion Country Kitchen.
“It was great to reconnect with some of our regular customers,” said Ryan Kiernan of Kiernan”™s Farm.  “They pre-ordered their favorite cuts of grass-fed beef and came to pick up their orders and enjoy a day out.”
Vendors included Bobolink Bakehouse and Dairy, Black Dirt Gourmet, Bru Organics, Fontanarosa”™s Pasta, Janet”™s Breads, Kiernan”™s Farm, Onion Country Kitchen, Picklelicious, Scotty’s Pies, Soon’s Orchard, Snoep Winkel Farm, Sunrise Mountain Soaps, Sweet Things and Wild Thymes Honey, and W. Rogowski Farm products. Milk and cheese were available from Tonjes Dairy, Lynn Haven Dairy and Late Bloomer Farm.
Shoppers had the opportunity to partake in the farm”™s weekend breakfast and enjoyed a special menu created for the event using products provided by the participating vendors, along with produce from Rogowski”™s farm.
Shalimar Alpaca brought two members of its flock, setting up looms to demonstrate weaving techniques and selling alpaca scarves, hats and gloves.
Erik Johansen of Iron Forge Inn, spoke about seasonal cooking and whipped up a soup out of carnival squash and kale on the spot. Music was provided by local singer-songwriter Evan Teatum, along with vocalist Lesley Anne Bowe and bassist/vocalist Philip Santiago.
“It was an amazing turnout,” said Johansen. “I don”™t know how Cheryl managed to do it, but she had the barn packed with visitors and the line of cars stretched down the road as far as you could see. Everyone enjoyed it, and it was a great success for Cheryl and all the local businesses that participated.”
Rogowski”™s next farm market will take place Saturday, Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to local vendors, there will be a food demonstration by chef Alex Baron of the Breezy Point Inn in Greenwood Lake, music by blues-man Dan Brother, and a knife-sharpening demonstration by Jim Montecallo.
All visitors are urged to bring packaged and canned food donations for the “Pine Island Pays It Forward” project to benefit needy families in the area. For more information, visit www.PineIslandFarmersMarket.com.
Hi there – just to be accurate, neither Soons Orchards nor Scotty’s Country Kitchen attended or is attending this market. Our farm market is just a few miles down the road and is open all winter til May 31, with apples, produce, cider, and yes, pies!
I stand corrected; Scotty’s is attending.