By Barb Biagioli
In a world of packaged and processed foods, the farmers’ market offers children something increasingly rare: a direct connection to real food. It is a living classroom filled with opportunities to learn, explore, and connect with the people and places that provide their food.
Many children grow up seeing food only after it has been packaged and placed on grocery store shelves. At the farmers’ market, they discover that food has a story. They meet the farmers who plant seeds, tend crops, care for animals, and harvest the food that nourishes us. These connections help children understand where their food comes from and appreciate the work behind every meal.
To foster these connections, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market is proud to offer the Power of Produce (POP) Club for Kids. Returning for its eighth season and made possible with support from the Christopher Dailey Foundation, this free 12-week program invites children ages 5–12 to engage with local food and farmers through hands-on activities, scavenger hunts, gardening, crafts, and farmer meet-and-greets.
The farmers’ market engages all the senses. Children touch fuzzy peaches, smell fresh basil, compare heirloom tomato colors, and listen to farmers explain how vegetables grow. They learn carrots come in more than one color, eggs aren’t always white, and strawberries taste different when picked fresh and in season. These experiences create lasting memories and encourage children to try new foods.
Farmers’ markets also teach children about the rhythm of the seasons. Instead of expecting every fruit and vegetable year-round, they learn that food grows at different times. Spring brings asparagus and greens, summer offers berries and tomatoes, and autumn arrives with pumpkins and apples. This awareness helps children connect to nature and their environment.
Beyond food, the market teaches valuable life skills. Children watch buying and selling, count money, make choices, ask questions, and interact with adults in their community. Through POP Club, children receive a $4 POP coin each week to spend on fresh produce, helping them build confidence while making healthy choices.
Most importantly, the farmers’ market helps children build relationships within their community. They learn the names of local farmers, bakers, and artisans, see neighbors supporting local businesses, and discover that food is grown, harvested, prepared, and shared by real people.
The 2026 POP Club season begins June 24 and runs through September 9. Join us Wednesdays from 3–6 pm at High Rock Park for afternoons of learning, laughter, and community connection.
The next generation of farmers, gardeners, chefs, and informed consumers may very well begin with a simple trip to the farmers’ market.
The Saratoga Farmers’ Market is open Wednesdays, 3–6 pm, and Saturdays, 9 am–1 pm, at High Rock Park in Saratoga Springs. Visit https://saratogafarmersmarket.org to sign up for our weekly newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
