$1.2 Million Expansion of Fromer Market Gardens in Tannersville Begins

TANNERSVILLE — New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley announced the groundbreaking of a $1.2 million expansion project at Fromer Market Gardens, a centerpiece of the Village of Tannersville’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The project seeks to revitalize the local landmark by expanding the farm stand and increasing parking capacity, including new accessible spaces, to better serve the community.

The expansion will increase the farm stand's footprint by approximately 50 percent, utilizing $366,000 in state DRI funding to improve the availability of fresh, organic produce for residents. Situated near the Hunter/Tannersville High-Middle School on Main Street, Fromer Market Gardens currently operates an 8,000-square-foot cold-weather greenhouse and several acres of cultivation. The site also features the historic Fromer Farmhouse, which hosts weekend events and houses food production facilities.

“Today’s groundbreaking marks an exciting new chapter for Tannersville, transforming an underutilized site into a vibrant asset the entire community can enjoy and benefit from,” Secretary Mosley said during the announcement. He emphasized that the state's investment reflects a commitment to ensuring small towns remain dynamic places to live and work.

The project is further supported by a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expand a culinary kitchen in the farmhouse. Additional funding includes $315,000 from the Hunter Foundation, $100,000 from Pro-Housing Community funds, and $500,000 from Empire State Development. Hope Knight, President and CEO of Empire State Development, noted that the expanded market will grow access to both fresh produce and culinary education while inviting more visitors to explore Main Street.

Tannersville Mayor Lee McGunnigle called the market an integral anchor for local ecotourism and farm-to-table awareness. Sean Mahoney, Executive Director of the Hunter Foundation, added that the project represents a major step forward by creating a space where agriculture and education intersect.

The Fromer Market Gardens expansion is one of several DRI-funded projects currently transforming Tannersville. Other initiatives include the development of 62 mixed-income residential units at the site of the former Cold Spring Hotel, equipment and studio upgrades at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center, and the construction of a new 12,000-square-foot mixed-use building at 5975 Main Street. The village is also implementing a multi-component connectivity project to improve pedestrian safety and installing a municipal solar system to cover power usage for local government facilities.

Tannersville was selected as the Capital Region’s fifth-round winner of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative in 2022.