The grand-daddy of days is the Saturday market. Saturday has an enormous offering of fresh flowers & plants, local produce of every description with an amazing selection of locally grown lettuces and greens, seasonal berries and fruits locally grown and harvested, several sellers of baked goods and fine breads (Heidelberg & Black River are my favorite), chocolates, gourmet pasta, fresh fish, local wines, fine handmade jewelry from a local potter (Roundrabbit), fresh milk and yoghurt & the famous "grasiago" cheese (Wake Robin Farm), canned fruits and preserves, kimchee, a maker of hummus, many many cheeses, huge dill pickles, free range eggs, excellent pretzels, high quality & very affordable natural handmade soaps (Syracuse Soapworks), an elderly maker of exotic biscotti, and many surprises. We even bought currants a few weeks ago, a rare find.
Anybody who has traveled would instantly recognize the quality and the impressive scale of this market against what other major cities have to offer. It has perhaps more sellers of non-farmer goods than is fashionable in the fancy markets like Pike Place (Seattle), or the strictly organic market in Ithaca, but it adds another level of possibility for shopping. The atmosphere i the warm weather is always friendly and the pace brisk, and the earlier you arrive the better. 10-11 am seems to be rush hour and the energy fades around 1 pm when several of the sellers have sold out and are packing up for home. There is plenty to be had well after that time however.
For eats, there are a few breakfast and bagel sellers (Dogs on Wheels is very popular), donuts & fried dough, fish sandwiches from the fish seller that are irresistible, Laotian, and more. The healthy choice is to snack your way through the market on greens and beans, and sample enough excellent local wine to leave in a very relaxed state. Pheasant Ridge winery out of Jamesville is maestro of fruit wines who does small runs that sell out fast.
We spend much less time in the supermarket these days and instead try to stretch our Saturday purchases to the next Saturday, always anticipating what will be new at the regional. As a result we have been eating much better and saving a surprising amount on our grocery budget.