Cakes and cookies: Rochester farmers market is more than just vegetables – Post Bulletin

deleciousfood | July 5, 2024 | Cake | No Comments

All kinds of foods bring us to the farmers market on Saturday mornings: fresh vegetables, greens of all kinds, fruits, berries, meats, flowers.

Add baked goods to this list.

This year, several new vendors are offering a variety of temptations, including cookies, breads, cakes, muffins and pies, and that’s just the beginning. By my count, there are at least 10 bakers, and you’ll be hard-pressed to pass them all. Some are familiar friends, others are about to become so.

The first doughnuts you’ll encounter are Steve and Patty Eckdahl’s of Northwoods Orchards. Packaged in doughnut boxes, they’re dusted with sugar and are a popular morning treat, especially for kids. The apple cider doughnuts are the best-selling.

A little further down the aisle is Monica Brossard, famous for her lefse, a best-seller since she introduced them more than 17 years ago. She brings in 60 to 70 dozen a week, and most are gone by mid-morning. They can be purchased in packages or individually, ready to eat, buttered and sweetened, on the spot. If lefse is synonymous with the holidays, Brossard proves they are good year-round. She also carries preserves and pickles.

Who hasn’t tried Sharon Su’s croissants? If not, you’re too late. I went there at 7:30 last week and they were already sold out. She’s an excellent baker and also makes sourdough breads and scones, which are also bestsellers.

Sweet temptations from the Yoder family at the Rochester Farmers Market.

Contributed by Holly Ebel

Don’t miss Dana’s baked goods. Danijela Akrapovic, originally from Croatia, is a newcomer to the market and offers a variety of unique products including baklava, baguettes, breadsticks, apple cakes and scones. She is particularly known for her baklava, which I can tell you is of the highest quality. You will have a hard time choosing from her specialties. Again, come early.

Another newcomer is Paula Peters of Board and Baker, who has an impressive selection of cinnamon rolls, caramel rolls, assorted biscuits and white chocolate and raspberry muffins. They look so good, you should probably buy one of each.

The grand dame of baked goods is Lori Feyen, who has been selling her wares with her daughter Alexa for 22 years. The whole family is involved, including her husband and chef Omar, who makes the yeast breads. What they bring in each week is incredible: 100 dozen cookies, 50 pies, 30 cakes, 150 cinnamon and caramel rolls and sweet breads. For many customers, it’s a regular Saturday morning stop. Feyen also points out that the time and experience here inspired them to open their cafe and catering business.

Farmers Market Bakers — Dana’s Baked Goods items at the Rochester Farmers Market.

Marlys Carney, a recently retired teacher, is the baker behind Miss Marvelous’s Sourdough. Everything is sourdough, including muffins, challah, croissants, bagels, granola and focaccia. With the popularity of sourdough all things, she had a busy morning. I bought a mini loaf, just my size. It made great toast.

A trip to the market should also include a stop at Oma’s Cookies, which has been around for three years. The long lines are a testament to the quality of Brittany Deyo’s baked goods. She always offers 13 varieties, with the most common being chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, sugar and brownie. The rest can include floral flavors like lavender, fruit and caramel. One of her latest cookies is a white chocolate guava cookie with a pretzel on top. All housed in glass jars, she offers at least 500 cookies a week. Last year, she sold more than 20,000. With those numbers, does she have any helpers? “No, just me.”

The Ida Yoder Family is another popular vendor, selling vegetables but also offering an impressive array of baked goods to tempt shoppers. Among the offerings are gorgeous breads, pies and hand-held fruit turnovers. Also catching the eye are the angel food cakes, including vanilla, strawberry and chocolate. So, shoppers, make your lists and head to the market this Saturday. Your bags and carts – and your mouths – will be full.