Growing Community Award presented to the Martin family

GardenShare presented the 2014 Growing Community Award to the Daniel and Mendy Martin family on Saturday, January 17. Daniel and Mendy own Martin's Needham Road Market on US Highway 11B outside of Potsdam.

GardenShare Executive Director Gloria McAdam (left) and President of the
Board of Directors, Carol Pynchon (right) present the award to the Martin's.

“They have been an influential part of the local food movement since 1998 when they started a U-pick strawberry operation at Southville Corners,” GardenShare Board of Directors President Carol Pynchon said.

A crowd fills the TAUNY center for
the award ceremony

The farm stand has grown exponentially since then; with other small farmers they produced and sold between 60 and 70 tons of food in 2012.  The Needham Road Market offers high quality vegetables at the stand and through an innovative on-line market. They are one of the first farm stands to accept payment through SNAP benefits and they have a small-scale wholesale operation that provides produce to local retail outlets.

“The Martin family consistently supports organizations that work toward food security in the North Country by donating produce to community meals, food pantries, and neighborhood centers, and they often welcome gleaners in their fields,” Pynchon said.

The GardenShare board and staff  thank  the local farms and retail organizations who made this event possible: Dan and Meghan Kent of Kent Family Growers, Dave and Kathy Rice from Sweet Core Farm, and Mike Corse of Deep Root Farm donated the vegetables and dried beans for the chili;ature's Storehouse  contributed the cornbread ingredients; and the Potsdam food Co-op provided the tomatoes, spices and dairy products.  Cindy Murdie from  Cindy’s  Cake Shop donated the beautiful cake.  We are so fortunate to live in a community that supports and honors  our work.

Thank you to the Methodist Church for allowing us to use their certified kitchen to produce the chili and corn bread.  Thank you to Jill Breit and the TAUNY Center staff for the use of their warm and welcoming space.  It was the ideal venue for this celebration of community spirit and connections.

The Martin Family join the following past recipients of this award:

• Jenny and Brian Walker - 2013
• Carlton Doane, Free Will Meals - 2012
• Katherine Lang - 2011
• U Share, Unitarian Universalist Church - 2010
• Julie Holbrook, Keene Central School - 2009
• Cindy Harnas, South Jefferson Central School - 2009
• North Country Public Radio - 2008
• Food Bank of Central New York - 2007
• Betsey Hodge - 2006
• North Country Grown Cooperative - 2006
• Seedcorn - 2005
• Canton Farmers Market - 2004
• PACES - 2003

Learn more about the Martin's and the award here