Rochester Public Market offers alternative for Thanksgiving shoppers

Rochester, New York — The Rochester Public Market is open on Wednesday for any last-minute holiday shoppers.

As supply chain issues are causing food to be more expensive this Thanksgiving, especially at bigger stores, the Public Market is a great option.

“I’m helping my mom prepare collard greens and she got some other little apple pie in here that we’re going to prepare,” said Crystal Muhammad of Rochester. “Due to all the rising costs and everything, this is kind of like on a budget so we’ll be able to afford everything.”

Thanksgiving dinner will cost about 14% more this year than last year due to a lack of workers and drivers making deliveries, According to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

According to Samuel McIntyre with Bottom Line Produce at the Public Market, these issues, and rising costs, are being seen on the small business level too.

“A lot of stuff that we normally get shipped in we can’t get, so it kind of put a damper on Thanksgiving,” said McIntyre. “It’s not only hurting the stores, it’s hurting us, too. But what are we going to do? We gotta roll with the punches and go with the flow.”

Local vendors like Bottom Line Produce are working hard to provide what people need for their Thanksgiving meals.