Catch the Spirit of the Holidays at the Rye Farmers Market

Here comes the season of big dinners with family and friends, cocktail parties and holiday gift-giving. This year, the Down to Earth Rye Farmers Market is going to help make it easy - and fun- to get ready with a one-day-only pop up market within the regular farmers' market featuring locally made spirits, hard ciders and mead.

Coming just before Thanksgiving, on Sunday, November 19th (8:30 AM to 2 PM), the event gives shoppers an opportunity to sample New York-made and -sourced brandies, whiskeys, sparkling hard cider, mead and more and then purchase bottles for holiday entertaining and gift giving. So far, six local makers are booked to showcase their products at the pop-up, with more in the works: Nahmias et Fils Distillery from Yonkers, Adirondack Distilling Company and Gristmill Distillers from the Adirondacks, Taconic Distillery from Stanfordville, Mysto Mead from the Hudson Valley, Diner Brew Co. from Mount Vernon and Cliffton Dry from the Finger Lakes Region. Shoppers will be able to compare and contrast distillery styles and learn about the local spirits movement in the best (and most fun!) way possible – by tasting their way through the options with guidance from the makers themselves. Each spirits vendor will also sample a signature cocktail and hand out recipes to spark ideas for holiday entertaining.

Locally made spirits, mead and hard cider are the perfect way to toast Thanksgiving and are sure to please as unique and tasty gifts. But the benefits do not end there, because each bottle purchased supports New York farms and small businesses. By using locally grown fruits, herbs and grains the spirits makers help ensure the future of small scale farms in New York State. And consumers who shop at the farmers’ market directly support the vendors’ small businesses in turn.

Each Sunday from 8:30 AM to 2 PM the Down to Earth Rye Farmers Market brings regional farmers and local food makers to the parking lot off Theodore Fremd Avenue, behind the Purchase Street stores. The market offers just-picked fruits and vegetables, artisan breads, pies made from scratch, grass fed beef, pickles, specialty foods, locally roasted coffee, grower olive oil, free range eggs and poultry and more. The Rye Farmers Market is open this year through December 3rd.

Since 1991 Down to Earth Farmers Markets has been on a mission to sustain and strengthen New York’s regional food system. We host markets in New York City, Westchester County, and Rockland County to expand economic opportunities for local farmers and food makers and to provide communities with access to fresh, healthy, flavorful food. For a full list of our markets and vendors, visit DowntoEarthMarkets.com.