From left are Nick Weith, Jamestown Farmers’ Market director, Marion Beckerink, president of the Rotary Club of Jamestown, and Caitin O’Reilly, Rotary vice president.

Nick Weith, food access manager for the Jamestown Farmers’ Market, recently spoke to members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown.

Weith is originally from Arlington, Texas. He completed a Business and Culinary Arts degree in Denver, Colo. at Johnson & Wales University and moved to Western New York in 2016 as part of the America Corps and began teaching in the Buffalo Public Schools. Weith taught in Buffalo for three years in special education, working in the Career and Tech Education-Horticulture Program. He then worked for Forestville Central Schools as a nutrition educator and Farm to School coordinator, eventually becoming the school cafeteria manager working to bring locally grown and scratch-cooked meals to the district.

After a move to Ohio following the pandemic, Weith returned to the area as food access manager for the Jamestown Public Market at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. For 18 months, Weith, as manager of the Jamestown Public Market, has assessed the programs included under the Jamestown Farmers Market. Changes are on the horizon.

There are many programs offered with two primary focuses: food access and people who want local access and supporting the local agricultural economy. The flagship program is the Saturday Farmers’ Market at St. Lukes, throughout the winter as well. The organization has recently moved to a 25-week season. There are themed weeks throughout summer and fall, partnering with local agencies, i.e., Lucy Fest, RTPI, etc. This year there will be music as well.

Weith expressed the need for volunteers on Saturday mornings to set up tables and chairs to enable people to sit and have food together. One of the advantages of the market is its ability to process SNAP vouchers, which is a cumbersome process but one that helps farmers. The market also offers matching funds for the SNAP vouchers, up to $50.

The organization also has a Mobile Market. It purchases food from the market and travels to six sites each week, including food deserts, and works with organizations. The mobile market also accepts SNAP vouchers.

There is also a CSA Program (Community Support of Agriculture) which allows people to purchase a supply of farmers’ freshest food, i.e. a food box of vegetables, bread, meat, mushrooms, etc. It is paid for at the beginning of the season which allows farmers funds to get through the summer. There are still boxes available, along with recipes. There is also a community garden at the corner of Sixth Street and Lakeview Avenue.

For more information check their website at www.jfmny.org.