The 51st edition of the Farmers Market in Clinton Square kicked off Tuesday and, like every year, has been months in the planning.
Merike Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syracuse which runs the event, says organizers begin reaching out to farmers in January to see who is "interested in attending the event and what types of products they will be looking to bring."
That way the committee knows the array of products they can expect from farmers, many of whom are repeat sellers, including Jim Maryinuk, owner of Maryinuk Farms, who has been coming to the market for 40 years.
Maryinuk was one of about a dozen vendors on opening day and brought some of his early crops, such as asparagus and haskap berries.
Trieir says, as later in the season, that number typically increase to two dozen, "based on crops coming in and new production in different produce."
Or adverse weather, says Maryinuk, like the recent freeze, which can lead to lost crops and make it harder for farmers to come every week.
Other fruits and vegetables already available at the Downtown Farmers Market include tomatoes asparagus, strawberries and cucumbers.
The market runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday through Oct. 10, and also offers local entertainment as part of the weekly Lunchtime Live Music Series.
