BUFFALO, N.Y. — There are currently 400 farmers' markets in New York state, and new legislation heading through the state Senate aims to make it easier to establish new ones.

What You Need To Know

  • Senate Bill S2199 aims to expand farmers' markets across the state

  • WNY has about 400 farmers' markets that offer locally grown fresh produce and products to the community

  • Flat 12 Mushroom Farm in Buffalo believes this is important to farmers and the community alike

"It’s not like we don’t have a really robust farmer’s market network already, so in the city of Buffalo I’m not sure that it makes that much of a difference, in Western New York in general, I’m not sure that it makes that much of a difference, in places that don’t, it does," said Robert Gianadda of Flat 12 Mushroom Farm in Buffalo.

Gianadda said it is important for farmers to sell directly to consumers to cut out the middleman and interact with their community.

"You’re meeting the people that make your food. It's a lot harder to sell somebody something that is not healthy or made in a way that you know is not right," he said, adding that all the mushrooms at Flat 12 are made with organic products and all waste is compostable.

"We’re basically telling you what we’re growing on, there’s nothing hidden behind that. All of our processes are wide open, they’re right here in the kitchen behind you," he said.

Click here to find a farmers’ market near you.