Submitted photo and press release:

Shoppers may have noticed the bearded gentleman with the ear-to-ear smile at the Batavia Public Market. Mike Vickner and his wife, Jan Goodenbery, of “Rooted in Joy” sell the best of the season harvested from their farm located in Oakfield.

They have fruits, vegetables (especially garlic!), flowers and delicious baked goods. They also provide “pet-the-bunny therapy,” he says with a grin.

Dedicated to providing food grown in an environmentally sustainable manner (no chemicals, only natural fertilizers, and “chickens that live a chicken’s life”) Vickner believes in preserving the Earth and her bounty with his own Hippocratic oath of “do no harm.“

In addition to his passion for farming, Vickner is committed to his role as a caregiver at Crossroads House here in Batavia and its Board of Directors has graciously proclaimed Rooted in Joy as their official market farm.

As members of the Crossroads family, Mike and Jan will provide information at their stand about upcoming community events and fundraisers to support the Crossroads mission of providing the very best in comfort care for residents in Genesee, Wyoming, and surrounding counties.

“We’ll see you at the Market!”

Meet Jason Moneau (pictured above) on his first week on the job with Michelle's Catering Company and Bakery. I found him tonight serving to customers at the Batavia Sports Park.

Moneau is the first male employee driver since the business opened in 2010. He is enjoying working with the public and says to stop out at lunch time daily during the week at the bakery to grab a hotdog or hamburg. He's a friendly guy that delivers a smile and fills the tip jar too while making new friends.

Driving a pink truck is one thing, wearing it would be another.

"Well as long as I don't have to wear anything pink I'm good with that," Moneau said.

Michelle Farina couldn't have been happier with the first day of the Batavia Public Market, a new venture she decided to undertake this summer at the home location of her bakery and catering service on West Saile Drive.

With a license from the Town of Batavia for 160 vendors, she was happy to have 80 on the first day. There was a steady stream of shoppers throughout the morning and into the afternoon. And the weather was perfect.

"I'm just so happy to see all these people here," Farina said. "Everyone has just given us great feedback about how happy they are to be here. To see these people happy makes me happy. It's a great turnout. It's good to see a gathering of people in the community to come out, sit down at picnic tables and get a bite of food from these food trucks and to listen to our local band. It's just great."

The market will run every Saturday through Oct. 31, and as fresh, locally grown produce comes into season, Farina said there will be vendors offering the bounty of our local ag community.

Plus she anticipates more vendors signing on throughout the summer.

There will be live music every week supplied by local musicians, plus she hopes to add more activities for children.

Today, the Rochester Mustang Club brought their cherry rides to display.

"I wanted to have a place where the community meets," Farina said. "A gathering place for good people, kind of bring us back to the good old days."

A brand-new locally owned business making its debut at the market was Wakefield Coffee Roasters, owned by Scott and Cassie Wakefield. Scott fell in love with coffee roasting while in the Coast Guard stationed in Hawaii when a friend roasted a few ounces of coffee for him. He took it up as a hobby and when Farina learned about his very successful hobby, she suggested he set up a booth at the market. Coffee is best when it's freshly roasted, he said. "It's better than the stale stuff you get at the supermarket."

For customers who come to the market, he'll provide a batch of coffee beans roasted the night before that should last them the week. He hopes to develop a steady base of customers that will continue to get coffee from him throughout the winter. He does deliver coffee beans. As for a retail location someday? That's a thought, but just a thought at this point, he said. For more information, visit the Wakefield Coffee Roasters Web site.

The ninth season of the Downtown Batavia Public Market begins on Thursday, June 19, and will be open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Thursday through Sept. 25. But starting this year, it will be dubbed the Downtown FARMACY and there's a new location!

The Batavia Business Improvement District has announced that FARMACY will now be held in the parking lot at Bank Street and Alva Place (across from Jerome Center/UMMC). There will be plenty of convenient parking.

Among the offerings are baked goods, fresh corn, tomatoes, berries, homemade dog treats, peaches, potatoes, BBQ sauce, honey, maple syrup, fresh cut flowers, artisan wines, handmade quilts & crafts, and lots more.

Stop by and enjoy lunch prepared by Alston's BBQ. He will be serving his famous pulled pork sandwiches, as well as hot dogs and hamburgers. Of course he will be selling his specially made BBQ sauce.

There are a number of special programs and giveaways planned and these will be announced throughout the season, so stay tuned!

Remember, Local Food Dollars Remain Local.

For more information, contact the BID at 585-344-0900 or e-mail BID Director Don Burkel at DBurkel@DowntownBataviaNY.com