A guide to farmers markets across Western New York

*YO* WHO*LOV* TO SHOPLOCAL...AND SHOP OUTDOORS..GRAB YOUR REUSABLE BAGS ...DOZENS OF FARMERS MARKETS WILLOPEN FOR THE FIRST TIME THISSEASON TOMORROW..AND AS 7 EYEWITNESS NEWSREPORTER JEDDY JOHNSON TELLSUS..

IT IS A MUCH ANTICIPATEDWEEKEND FOR FARMERS ANDBUSINESSES WORKING THEIR WAYOUT OF A PANDEMIC SLUMP...FARM TO TABLE MARKETS AREGEARING UP FOR THE 20-21FARMERS MARKET SEASON& ASUMMER LONG EVENT PROMOTINGLOCAL FARMERS AND VENDORS INWESTERN NEW YORK ME: ARE YOUHAPPY TO BE BACK IN A PLACEAND BE ABLE TO SHOW?

HER:ABSOLUTELY I'M SO GLAD TO BEABLE TO TALK TO PEOPLE AGAIN IMEAN I'VE BEEN HOME IVE BEENDOING PUZZLES LIKE CRAZY.

THEEASTERN HILLS MALLS KICKED OFFITS INDOOR FARMERS MARKET LASTWEEKEND& IN HOPES OF GAININGCUSTOMERS RIGHT BEFORE MOTHERSDAY.

"IT'S BEEN SLOW BUT WEEMAILED MY CUSTOMERS TO LETTHEM KNOW I'M GONNA BE HERE."WITH THE EVER CHANGINGGUIDELINES FOR INDOOR ANDOUTDOOR MARKETS, SOME VENDORSWERE LEFT PENNILESS LAST YEAR."WE WERE GOING TO MAYBE TWO ORTHREE FARMERS MARKETS BEFOREAND LAST SUMMER WE DIDN'T DOANY." THE WILLIAMSVILLE'SFARMER'S MARKET EVEN OPENED AGO-FUND-ME TO HELP SOME OFTHEIR VENDORS OUT.

"LAST YEARWE REALLY HAD TO CUT WAYBACK..

NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THECDC GUIDELINES BUT ALSOFINANCIALLY." GRENAUER SAIDMANY SPONSORS HAD TO PULL OUTOF THE FARMERS MARKET BECAUSETHEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO HELP..BUT WITH LOOSER REGULATIONSAND VACCINES ROLLING OUT&SHE'S HOPEFUL THAT CUSTOMERSWILL STILL MAKE THEIR WAYOUTSIDE.

"ESPECIALLY SINCE ITSAN OPEN AIR MARKET." BRYANSTRZELEC OF ERBA VERDE FARMSWILL MAKE HIS FIRST APPEARANCEAT A FARMERS MARKET SATURDAY"WE DID A LOT OF BUSINESS WITHRESTAURANTS IN THE PAST ANDWITH ALL THE RESTAURANTS BEINGSHUT DOWN A LOT LAST YEAR WEHAD TO MAKE A SHIFT TO REACHMORE PEOPLE." SO HE'S BRINGINGHIS MEATS TO THE ELMWOODFARMERS MARKET&.

"PEOPLE HAVEHEARD OF US AND JUST HAVE NOTTAKEN THAT STEP TO VISIT THEFARM SO I GUESS ITS JUSTANOTHER WAY TO CREATE ANOTHERTOUCH AS FOR AS BEING ABLE TOSELL TO INDIVIDUALS." THEEASTERN HILLS AND ELMWOODVILLAGE FARMERS MARKET WILL BEOPEN SATURDAY AND THEWILLIAMSVILLE MARKET WILL KICKOFF DURING THE FIRST WEEK OFJUNE.

IN BUFFALO JJ 7EWNTO HELP YOU FIND A MARKET NEARYOU...WE'VE COMPILED A LIST OFALL THE LOCAL FARMERS MARKETSAND HOURS OF OPERATION... THELIST INCLUDES LINKS TO ALL THEMARKETS - - RIGHT NOW AT WKBWDOT COM --A PAIR OF STATE LAWMAKERS HAVEINTRODUCED NEW LEGISLATIONTHAT WOULD ALLOW THECONTROVERSIAL AMIG