Old Forge Farmers Market

The Old Forge Farmers Market was founded in 2008. It began as a cooperative idea of three community members: Sandy Booton, Deb Carhart and Kelly Hamlin, and was sponsored by LivingADK with support from the Central Adirondack Association.

The concept was to bring local, seasonal farm products to the Central Adirondacks while providing a community gathering place for residents, visitors, and seasonal residents alike to the hamlet center.

The Farmers Market committee, which had expanded to include Katie Boesche and Kathy Rivet, relied on Cornell Cooperative Extension and NYS Department of Agriculture, to develop a model market that met state guidelines, while acknowledging that this was not a prime agricultural region.

Several market sites were researched, including North Street, the lakefront and Hemmer Cottage for space, accessibility, safety and parking. Thankfully, Linda Cohen joined the committee, and offered the market the parking area and green space behind the Old Forge Hardware & Furniture Co., which had been its location ever since. Erica and Terry Murray, current owners of “the Hardware” continued to offer the site behind their store for which we were so appreciative until the 2022 season rolled around. Due to parking restrictions and market popularity, the market had to be moved to the parking lot of 201 North Street, Old Forge.

We are grateful for the support of our vendors, some of who have been with us since the beginning including Mapleview Farm, Thousand Island Winery and Wild Mountain Apiaries. After several seasons, we expanded to include local artisans and crafters to enhance the experience along with music entertainment, as well as courtesy space to local and service nonprofits. All have contributed to the unique feel of Friday afternoons at the Farmers Market.

Running a Farmers Market is more complex than it might look to market goers. Our unique and passionate Market Managers have been central to the market’s success. Kelly Hamlin was our first Market Manager and set the stage for our popularity and growth. Reed and Barb Proper then took the manager’s role in 2012, and at 80 years young, Reed became the first certified Market Manager in NY state in 2017. Mary Brophy-Moore and Sue Huber teamed up in 2018, and now Sue and Phil Huber are at the helm of the market since 2019. We are so grateful as well to all our market volunteers throughout the years.

While LivingADK is the sponsor and administrator of the market, it is important to know the net proceeds from vendor rental fees go directly to sup5,000 has been contributed directly to local church food pantries in Old Forge and Inlet and through the market’s nutritional assistance vouchers.

Ah, the sounds, sights and aromas of the Old Forge Farmers Market on Friday afternoons … Who can forget the lines following Kathy Rivet as she crossed the street carrying warm baked goods from the Five Corners Café, the succulent round globes that were Chad Roberts’s heirloom tomatoes, and the deer munching the crisp fall apples from North Star Orchards?