Locally grown produce is abundant in the Buffalo Niagara region. Discover some of the best local farms producing seasonal fruits & veggies.
by Katie Johnson
Bountiful Buffalo Niagara: the region grows a delicious array of seasonal produce every year
Amazing Seasonal Produce
Chicken wings and sponge candy may be synonymous with Buffalo yet our region, Zone 6, produces some of the most wonderful, seasonal fruits and vegetables. While summer for many in Buffalo Niagara is the season to relish in the abundance of our local produce at farmers markets—tomatoes, cherries and plums all ripe for the eating—any season our local farms have amazing produce to be shared.
“I use lots of spreadsheets, lots of note taking. You know, always trying to make it better for the next year,” shared Carrie Nader, owner of West Side Tilth Farm, when planning out the crops and rotations for the year.
“We have our field with the two moveable greenhouses outside, it’s like a game of Tetris with the space. We’re planting our onions today to overwinter for spring onions. Right now, the greenhouses are over the peppers and we’re planting the onions outside. Once the peppers come out, we’ll pick up the greenhouse, move it over the onions so in the spring, next year, we’ll have spring onions.”
” … the average piece of produce in the U.S. travels 1,500 miles. In comparison, local food only travels 100 miles or less”
The urban farm on Buffalo’s west side is a staple among the community with its Saturday farmers markets featuring other local vendors and fresh made artisan pizzas, along with a CSA program running June-November each year.
“We strive to be a beautiful space providing people with sustenance, nutrition and that sense of community,” said Nader.
While local can mean a number of different things, whether it’s food grown by someone you know or just produced in your region or state, small growers like the crew at West Side Tilth Farm tend to focus on soil health and sustainable practices so food can benefit both the land and community, as compared to conventional, large-scale agriculture—West Side Tilth importing their own soil and running the farm on as much solar as possible.
“We have six solar panels on my house, it doesn’t cover everything but you know we do what we can. We live in the city and you don’t know what structures are there. It was really important to us, to avoid any, any question whatsoever about the soil we decided to bring it in. We’re essentially growing in just a gigantic raised bed.”
Full spectrum of colors at West Side Tilth Farm
According to research at Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, the average piece of produce in the U.S. travels 1,500 miles. In comparison, local food only travels 100 miles or less, allowing it to maintain more of its nutrients in the shorter process.
“Food nutrition, such a big deal,” elaborated Nader. “Your health really starts with your nutrition, what you put in your body. So if you’re not eating well, you’re not going to feel good. Being able to supply people, especially the folks in our neighborhood (we accept WIC, the farmers market nutrition program checks and take snap) that’s really important for me because I want this to be accessible to everybody.
Eat What’s In Season
While there are the tried-and-true staples of the region, Nader suggests enjoying and exploring something new to you!
Fall
- Apples
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Celery
- Collard greens
- Corn
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Endive
- Fennel
- Field greens
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Lettuce
- Mushrooms
- Parsley
- Peaches
- Pumpkins
- Radicchio
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Sweet potatoes
- Zucchini
Winter
- Apples
- Acorns
- Beets
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Leeks
- Onions
- Parsnips
- Pears
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Squash (winter)
- Turnips
Spring
- Dandelion greens
- Chives
- Thyme
- Sage
- Oregano
- Mint
- Pea shoots
- Sorrel
- Ramps
- Watercress
- Asparagus
- Lettuce
Summer
- Arugula
- Cherries
- Kale
- Peas
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries
- Rosemary
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Carrots
- Cherries
- Plums
- Scallions
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Basil
- Lavender
- Squash (summer)
- Swiss Chard
- Peppers
- Shallots
Carrots from Thorpes Organic Family Farm
Find Your Local Farm
Get to know over 30 locally owned farms and their communities around Western NY.
5 Loaves Farm
1172 West Ave, Buffalo, NY 14213
Kelkenberg Farm
9270 Wolcott Rd, Clarence Center, NY 14032
WestSide Tilth Farm
246 Normal Ave, Buffalo, NY 14213
Common Roots Urban Farm
309 Peckham St, Buffalo, NY 14206
Coulter Farms
3871 N Ridge Rd, Lockport, NY 14094
Root Down Farm
850 Shimerville Rd, Clarence Center, NY 14032
Thorpe’s Organic Family Farm
12866 Strykersville Rd, East Aurora, NY 14052
Akron Acres
12607 Stage Rd, Akron, NY 14001
Aldinger Farms, Inc.
390 Ransom Rd, Lancaster, NY 14086
Sanger Farm & Bakery
852 Lockport St, Youngstown, NY 14174
McCollum Orchards, LLC
248 N Adam St, Lockport, NY 14094
Becker Farms
3724 Quaker Rd, Gasport, NY 14067
Paul’s Organic Farm
8213 Center St, Holland, NY 14080
Greg’s U-Pick Farm
9270 Lapp Rd, Clarence Center, NY 14032
Smith’s Orchard Cider Mill
4960 Mapleton Rd, Lockport, NY 14094
Providence Creek Farm
10800 Rapids Rd, Clarence Center, NY 14032
Awald Farms
10692 Walnut St, North Collins, NY 14111
Tioga Valley Farm
7318 NY-240, West Falls, NY 14170
Halmony Farms
4567 Mapleton Rd, Lockport, NY 14094
Kappus Farms, Inc.
6275 Jockey Rd, Burt, NY 14028
The Blueberry Treehouse Farm
1897 Davis Rd, West Falls, NY 14170
LynOaken Farms
10609 Ridge Rd, Medina, NY 14103
Beyers Maple Farm
13884 Schang Rd, East Aurora, NY 14052
Weiss Farms
7828 E Eden Rd, Eden, NY 14057
Wilson Street Urban Farm
Wilson St, Buffalo, NY 14212
Healthy Living Farm
11125 Miland Rd, Akron, NY 14001
Teacup Farm
2284 Johnson Creek Rd, Barker, NY 14012
South Hill Farm
9419 S Hill Rd, Boston, NY 14025
Amos Zittel & Sons Inc
3275 Webster Rd, Eden, NY 14057
Hall’s Apple Farm
6100 Ruhlmann Rd, Lockport, NY 14094
Chestnut Hill Farm
6405 Ward Rd, Orchard Park, NY 14127
Bowman Farms
11259 Gowanda State Rd, North Collins, NY 14111
Local Roots Farm
5328 W Lake Rd, Burt, NY 14028
Porter Farms
5020 Edgerton Rd, Elba, NY 14058
Kindred Kreek Farm
11932 Rapids Rd, Akron, NY 14001
West Wind Fruit Farm
98 Manitou Rd, Hilton, NY 14468
Providence Farm Collective
5701 Burton Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127
Hurtgam Farms
3216 Ridge Road, Ransomville, NY 14131
Tom Tower’s Farm
759 Lockport Street, Youngstown, NY 14174
Seabert Farms
3682 Ridge Road, Ridge Road, Lockport, NY 14094
Singer Farm
6730 Lake Road, Appleton, NY 14008
Blackman Homestead Farm
4472 Thrall Road, Lockport, NY 14094
Fleckenstein Farms
2813 Youngstown Lockport Road, Ransomville, NY 14131
What do you think of our guide to local farms and produce in Buffalo Niagara? Know a great one that we missed? Have a favorite? Let us know.
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