NT City Market voted No. 1 in U.S., state, region

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It’s official! The North Tonawanda City Market is the No. 1 farmers market in America. The American Farmland Trust – Farmers Market Coalition has crowned the NT Farmers Market as the “People’s Choice” winner as the top endorsed farmers market in the country!

Western New York leads the way once again on a national stage as the community comes through like no one else can in an outpouring show of love and support for the NT City Market in North Tonawanda.

It came down to the very last day of voting but, on Sept. 22, the North Tonawanda City Market was officially crowned as the No. 1 best farmers market in the U.S.

A press released said, “This is a tremendous national honor, recognition and achievement by the City of North Tonawanda and the entire Western New York community.”

A congratulatory letter received by NT City Market Manager Chris Delprince from the American Farmland Trust read: “Congratulations! I’m excited to inform you that with 18,326 votes North Tonawanda City Market has placed No. 1 in the nation, No. 1 in the Northeast region and No. 1 in New York. The 15th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration, presented by American Farmland Trust and Farmers Market Coalition was a huge success, with over 2,000 markets participating. Thank you for an amazing year.”

“The excitement that this competition created was something like I have never seen before at our farmers market,” Delprince said. “From the farmers, vendors, community, businesses and people both young and old, everyone was all on board. As the market manager, for me it was all about the creation of a tremendous marketing opportunity that would generate great exposure for the market.

“It was such a beautiful thing to see how people came together to support our market. Thanks to the American Farmland Trust for providing us with a platform to showcase all the incredible happenings at the North Tonawanda City Market. The exposure from this has brought in shoppers from all over the Western New York region that have never been to our market before.”

North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec said, “We are honored and humbled to be designated as the No. 1 farmers market in the nation.”

He added, “ As mayor of the great City of North Tonawanda who grew up shopping with my parents at the NT City Market on a regular basis, it was just an extraordinary experience for me to witness what can happen when a community comes together.

“Our market is over a century old and has always been a special place where our wonderful farmers and vendors can come and present their products. We are so very proud of all the people who rolled up their sleeves to help get out the votes, which put us over the top, especially our market manager, Chris Delprince, who worked tirelessly to maximize the exposure that we needed.”

In addition to bragging rights, the NT City Market has won cash prizes, a gift box of merchandise, complimentary memberships to AFT and FMC, and more for being named one of America’s favorite farmers markets of 2023.

Sponsored by the American Farmland Trust-Farmers Market Coalition, the event ran June 20 through Sept. 18. The 15th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration (AFMC) showcases the essential markets across the nation making a difference for farmers, ranchers, and communities.

The North Tonawanda City Market will be celebrating the achievement with a Customers Appreciation Day on Saturday, Sept. 30. Details of that event will be made public at a later date.