As long as I have participated in local farmer’s markets, I have envied the fresh cut flower vendors. At peak season, their tables are bursting with color and sweet smells, pulling in customers like bees to honey. Oh, to be surrounded by so much beauty!
There is also something about buying flowers for yourself, rather than vegetables or meats at a farmer’s market. Food items need to be brought home and prepared, whereas the flowers are a treat in and of themselves.
I first met flower farmer Gerry Luberger over 10 years ago when I began vending at the Clinton Farmer’s Market. Customers would often visit my booth after purchasing an arrangement from Gerry, their newly acquired cheerful blooms peaking out of their market baskets. These customers consistently had the most contented looks on their faces—smiling ear-to-ear and practically floating with happiness.
I soon wanted that same happiness for myself and began buying an arrangement from Gerry at the beginning of every market day, placing it on my table as part of my display. Gerry quickly offered to trade for cheese, a fairly common bartering for goods that we “farmer’s market folk” thoroughly enjoy. Any customer that offered a compliment on my flowers was quickly referred to Gerry’s tent, where they could capture some of that happiness for themselves!
Gerry’s Dark Hollow Farm is in Smyrna, where she has been growing flowers for sale since 1988. She currently vends at the Hamilton Farmer’s Market on Saturdays and will also take orders for bulk flowers. She is a talented gardener, selling plant starts in the spring, herbs, cut flowers, and dries her favorite varieties for dried arrangements, extending her season’s sales. Her niece, Libby, can often be found helping on the farm and at the market. The two of them make a fun and engaging sales team.
In my experience, locally grown fresh cut flowers stay fresh and lovely for a very long time. The arrangement I got from Gerry every Thursday would last nearly til the following Thursday, and would come home with me to sit on my kitchen counter or at our breakfast table for the week.
The joy of getting these freshly cut flowers even gave me the perfect gift idea for my mother-in-law, who would be the first to tell you she doesn’t need “more stuff”. I purchased a flower CSA for her, where a local farm delivered a fresh arrangement of flowers to her every week for a set period of time. It was pure happiness, delivered right to her doorstep.
While not 100% inclusive, this is a great list of local flower growers and where to find them. And may I suggest that the next time you visit a farmer’s market, make your first purchase a bouquet from a local flower farmer. You’ll be glad you did!
Dark Hollow Farm, Smyrna—flower arrangements, dried flowers, herbs
Hamilton Farmer’s Market
Post Street Farm, Clinton—flower arrangements, herbs, vegetables
Clinton Farmer’s Market; Hamilton Farmer’s Market; roadside stand; flower CSA
Spring Creek Lavender, Remsen—flower arrangements, lavender goods, dried flowers
Clinton Farmer’s Market; on-farm store; u-pick
Simple Farms, Remsen—sunflowers (21 varieties!)
Clinton, Rome, Old Forge, and Oneida County Public Farmer’s Markets—all at the Slate Creek Farm booth
Floral Root, Canajoharie—flower arrangements, herbs, succulents
Clinton Farmer’s Market
Catalpa Flower Farm, Homer—flower arrangements, bulk flowers
Flower CSA, roadside stand
Houle Flower Farm, Little Falls—flower arrangements, bulk flowers
Roadside stand
Spongetta’s Garden, West Winfield—flower arrangements, bulk flowers, classes
Flower CSA, online sales