GREENE – A new butcher shop and farmers market is scheduled to open in early April at 62 Genesee St., nestled between Rite Aid and the Village Cafe in the heart of downtown Greene.
Dubbed the ‘Butcher Block and Farm Market,’ the shop will feature a mixture of deli, butcher shop and farmers market items. Owners Don and Andrea Cascun view the new business as an expansion of the Cascun Farm in Greene and will also be vending other local produce on behalf of farmers in the area.
Initially, when the Cascuns had been expanding their organic poultry business, they traveled to New York City to vend their products and – soon after – they were bringing other local goods produced by farmers who were unable to get off the farm to the market with them. As the Cascuns were increasingly exposed to all of the wonderful amenities being created in the Greene area, it dawned on them that such products were not readily available to consumers in Chenango County and subsequently, they decided to open up the new shop.
“It’s absolutely amazing what is being produced in our own back yard; a lot of high quality stuff made in low quantities,” said store owner Andrea Cascun. “We wanted to be able to have a place to showcase our pastured meats as well as all of the other amazing farm products in our area.”
The building chosen to house the Butcher Block and Farm Market is on the state historical registry and the Cascuns are currently in the process of renovating the building, striping it down and restoring it back to its former glory.
Once completed, the shop will feature a rustic interior that includes such antiquities as an aged meat case recovered from the old Oxford market, and a large homemade wooden table cozied up to the shop’s front window that will provide patrons with window seating while they munch on their fresh deli subs.
The Cascuns have reported a steady stream of visitors including older folk who have stopped in and conveyed their approval of the work done to the building’s interior as they provided anecdotal accounts of the structure during the days of their youth.
The list of produce – which will be available once the butcher shop is open – is extensive, and includes local meats, handmade sausages, house-smoked bacon and other charcuterie items. The deli portion of the shop promises cold cuts and specialty sandwiches, homemade deli salads, rotisserie chickens, fresh ravioli and sauces to go. The farmers market segment will feature locally made jams, honey, pickles, granola, milk, yogurt, cheese, and eggs. Breads and gourmet items from downstate will also be sold.
“We just really wanted to offer local stuff to local people,” said Cascun.