**MISSION STATEMENT:**
*”To provide a venue where regional farmers, food producers, crafters and artisans come together to offer a variety of high-quality, locally-grown healthy food options, organic produce, grass-fed animal products, and handcrafted goods directly to Seneca Nation members and surrounding communities, benefiting the gut and overall health of everyone involved.”*
The Seneca Nation Farmers Market at the Cattaraugus Territory has been operating since February of 2013. Open on Tuesdays, the Summer Market operates from the third week in June to the last week in October, while the Winter Market operates from the first week in November to the second week in May. Vendors offer fresh seasonal produce, organically raised hormone-free meats, dairy products, traditional herbs and spices, and other nutritious food items. The Market attracts customers from both the Cattaraugus Territory and surrounding communities, uniquely emphasizing healthy, organic choices known to enhance gut health and overall wellness.
Access to reasonably priced, fresh food is particularly significant—not only for Native populations like the Seneca—but for all people. For thousands of years, communities thrived by eating naturally grown, pesticide-free foods, directly benefiting gut microbiomes, immune systems, and general health. Over the past few centuries, however, this vital relationship with the land and its nourishing bounty has been disrupted. Modern diets filled with processed foods—high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats—have negatively impacted gut health and have led to unprecedented rates of nutrition-related illnesses across all communities. According to the American Diabetes Association, “At nearly 16.1 percent, American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes among all U.S. racial and ethnic groups.”
Unfortunately, diabetes rates among Native communities are mirrored within the Seneca Nation. According to the 2013 Seneca Nation Diabetes Report, diabetes prevalence increased from 19.7% in 2010 to 20.4% in 2012—alarmingly high compared to New York State’s 8.4% and the national rate of 6.4%.
The high incidence of diabetes indicates not only potential diminished quality of life—through complications such as neuropathy, kidney disease, and lower limb amputations—but also an increased likelihood of premature death from heart disease or stroke. For Seneca youth, recent data from the Seneca Nation Health System reveals 5.7% of children aged 5 to 12 at the Cattaraugus Territory have diabetes, a rate significantly higher than the national average. Clearly, urgent action is required to reverse these trends.
The availability of fresh, organically farmed foods can significantly reduce reliance on processed foods filled with empty calories. Since its inception, the Seneca Nation Farmers Market has directly addressed these challenges by providing high-quality, healthy food options, grown naturally and pesticide-free, thereby promoting better gut and overall health within the community.
Jodi Oakes, one of the original vendors, was recently named Market Manager for Cattaraugus. She collaborates closely with the Food Is Our Medicine Project Manager, developing strategies to attract new vendors, expand product variety, and ensure ongoing success for the market.
Recently, the Seneca Nation hosted the Mobile Farmers Market, an initiative of the Intertribal Agricultural Council, established in 1987 to enhance agriculture throughout Indian Country. On July 15th at the Cattaraugus Territory, and July 16th at the Allegany Territory, the Mobile Farmers Market introduced Native foods—including wild rice, maple syrup, white and blue corn, jams and jellies—as well as crafts and jewelry to the Seneca community. Through initiatives like the Mobile Farmers Market, communities everywhere are reestablishing connections to traditional, organic foods that positively influence gut health and overall well-being.
As the management team of the Seneca Nation Farmers Market, we take pride in how far the market has progressed, yet we remain focused on ambitious future goals. These include expanding customer and vendor participation, partnering with the Salamanca Farmers Market in Allegany Territory, raising awareness among Seneca youth and Elders, and introducing more indigenous foods known for their gut and overall health benefits.
In the 2013 National Farmers Market Week proclamation, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack noted, “…farmers markets play a key role in developing local and regional food systems that support sustainability, revitalize communities, and provide opportunities for farmers and consumers to interact.” We remain dedicated to making these words a reality, ensuring that organic agriculture, community interaction, and improved gut health remain at the forefront of the Seneca Nation Farmers Market’s mission for the benefit of everyone.