VOORHEESVILLE — Beginning on Friday, July 10, the First United Methodist Church on Maple Avenue will offer residents a weekly opportunity to shop and eat locally.

All summer long, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Fridays, a farmers’ market will be held in the church’s parking lot. Between 13 and 15 vendors will be selling their local wares, most of whom are already selling at other local farmers’ markets. Goods that will be sold include fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, cheeses, baked goods, packaged soups, and locally made teas, to name a few. There will also be a knife-sharpening service offered every other week.

Dianne Luci, a church member who helped organize the market, said parishioners thought of the idea during a discussion about how to get more involved in the community. “I said, ‘Boy does a farmers’ market sound good!’” she recalled.

Luci, who is an avid gardener herself, is most excited about being able to offer villagers local produce. “A couple of years ago, I read the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver,” she said. “After I got done reading that, I was appalled at what we spend on produce in our supermarkets and how we have come to feel that we should have melon and strawberries and blueberries all year round, and the cost and pollution of trucks and trains to get all this produce from either Florida or California to us.”

Luci concluded, “It is so important to eat locally.”

Noah Sheetz, the executive chef at the governor’s mansion, will also be at the Voorheesville farmers’ market on Fridays. Luci said he will be cooking on site, using various goods sold by the vendors and offering samples to the public.

On the second Friday, July 17, Geutze Barbecue will be selling chicken broiler halves for six dollars. The barbecued chicken is available by reservation only, and those who wish to buy them should leave a name and number on the church office’s phone, which is 765-2895. Luci said that they need 100 reservations for the chicken and, if the barbecue is successful, it will be offered again.