It hasn’t been easy to get organic foods if you live in or around the Seneca Nation. A new market in Collins looks to solve that problem. Gakwi:yo:h Farms Market had its grand opening Wednesday. They are currently selling fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, bison, maple syrup, and white corn products that are grown on their own 50-acre farm.
Gakwi:yo:h Farms Market Project Assistant William Printup said a lack of healthy food options can contribute to native populations getting diseases. He said they want their community to have options for healthier choices.
“I know the Seneca Nation has done a few surveys. What they found a few years back was that the community wanted something where they could have this produce available. They’ve been great in helping us out and backing us,” Printup said.
Printup said in the past, you’d have to drive 45 minutes out of Collins to find organic farms.
“It went pretty good (Wednesday),” he said. “We’re probably going to have to order more produce probably. We’re in Collins, New York and we had a few people as far away as Williamsville, some people from Hamburg. So not even just the local community. People all over from Western New York.”
The current store hours are Monday through Friday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
