Rainouts hit Long Island farmers markets, leaving vendors hoping for a break in weekend weather
At Sal & Jerry’s Bakery in West Babylon, bakers are busy preparing cookies and other baked goods while hoping they will finally get the chance to sell them at a farmers market this weekend.
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Weeks of rainy weekends have put a damper on outdoor activities across Long Island, but vendors who rely on farmers' markets and community fairs say the wet weather is also taking a serious toll on their businesses.
At Sal & Jerry’s Bakery in West Babylon, bakers are busy preparing cookies and other baked goods while hoping they will finally get the chance to sell them at a farmers market this weekend.
“Eight weeks of bad weather have really had a big impact on us doing the market or how well we sell at the market,” said co-owner Gianni Cracchiolo.
Cracchiolo said last Sunday’s farmers market in Babylon was canceled because of rain, cutting off an important source of revenue for the business.
“We rely on the farmers markets to get us through that slower season to bring us back to the holidays again,” he said.
While the bakery maintains a wholesale operation in West Babylon, Cracchiolo said retail sales at farmers markets across Long Island are critical to the company’s bottom line.
“All these cancellations from the rain are starting to add up,” he said. “Especially since I have people to pay and product that has to be sold.”
The challenges extend beyond a single business.
“For them, it’s not really a hobby. It’s really their livelihood,” said Michael Ciuffo, of Craft-A-Fair.
Ciuffo said last weekend’s fair in Farmingdale was rained out, affecting about 150 vendors.
“A string of rainy weekends in the spring and fall, and when that happens, it is devastating to them,” Ciuffo said. “Financially, it’s killing them.”
Organizers have rescheduled the Farmingdale fair for Saturday, and vendors at Sunday’s farmers market in Babylon are hoping for better weather and stronger turnout.
“Please come out, be at the farmers market, help every local vendor out,” Cracchiolo said. “We have been affected by this, and we just want to see you again.”
