Chautauqua Grown - Perfect Pairings

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (June 9, 2022): What goes better together than local producers and consumers looking for healthy, fresh, local, and accessible food options? What about late spring, early summer strawberries and rhubarb? There are so many things that people can do with strawberries; put them on ice cream to make a strawberry sundae, spend Saturday afternoon inhaling the sweet smell of a strawberry and rhubarb pie in the oven, cooking up some delicious strawberry jam or jelly to enjoy on a warm piece of toast on a chilly winter morning, the possibilities are literally endless!

This week is the beginning of our local strawberry season, with the unseasonably chilly and wet weather, it should make for a great strawberry crop this year. Other local produce that is in season this week is strawberries, kale, rhubarb, lettuce, swiss chard, and collards. Our Agriculture Coordinator, Cassandra Skal, has talked with several local farms to confirm strawberry availability as well as other produce and hours of operation. This information can be found quickly on our website: http://chautauqua.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua-grown/weekly-feature.

Many local producers offer U-Pick options so you can make memories at the strawberry patch with your family and friends. You can also fit picking up fresh picked produce into your busy schedule by visiting any of the local locations and purchase already picked berries. Our producers are also at the local farmers markets that have recently started up. Local farmers markets hours and days of operation are available at a quick glance here: http://chautauqua.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua-grown/farmers-markets-and-chautauqua-produce-auction.

Chautauqua County is home to over 1,500 farms, and more than 100 are selling their products directly to consumers, through farm stores, roadside stands, and farmers markets. Chautauqua Grown helps to connect consumers to farmers by providing a comprehensive listing of all types of farms that offer fresh fruits and vegetables, meat products, honey, maple syrup, and much more! Chautauqua Grown also features a listing of restaurants that are committed to purchasing local foods, which opens new markets for area farmers. There is also a complete directory of Farmers Markets and Wineries located in Chautauqua County.

Chautauqua Grown is looking to be all inclusive and expand our listed producers, if you have a farm, farm stand, or business that sells or grows food products locally and would like to be listed in our local food guide, please reach out to our Agriculture Program Coordinator, Cassandra Skal at 716-665-9502 Ext 202 or email at cks83@cornell.edu.

The Agricultural Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a subordinate governmental agency with an educational mission that operates under a form of organization and administration approved by Cornell University as agent for the State of New York. It is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. Each Cornell Cooperative Extension association is an independent employer that is governed by an elected Board of Directors with general oversight from Cornell. All associations work to meet the needs of the counties in which they are located as well as state and national goals. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated June 9, 2022