Rochester's public market was a busy place Thursday morning. People were stocking up on fresh fruits and vegetables for the Labor Bay weekend. Market officials said it was pretty much a typical crowd for a Thursday. But, they say, the market had a special feel just one day after being named the top farmers market in the nation.

"This distinction will earn us more love from the people that already love us, but maybe educate or make people aware about the market who maybe didn't know about it before, who haven't visited yet," said Evan Lowenstein, the market’s communication specialist.

In an on-line contest sponsored by the American Farmland Trust, the Rochester Public Market was voted the country’s favorite large farmers market. The top billing will be an asset when it comes to marketing the market.

Vendors believe they will benefit, too.

DeMeyer Farm in Greece has held the same spot at the Public Market for 30 years. It believes there is no better place to introduce its produce to a wide variety of people.

"There's not a lot of venues that we have anymore,” said Kevin Brantly of DeMeyer Farm. “There's a lot of smaller farmers markets around, but this seems to congregate more people at one time. Especially (for) some of the smaller farms out in the country, they get to be centralized and people can find out about them a little easier."

Some of the older shoppers said they recalled the days when there were live cows and goats at the market. Many of them say they enjoy coming back week after week, year after year.

"Nice people,” said Howard Ecker of Webster. “The price is what it is. Sometimes you can dicker at the end of the day, but the price is right and no tax."

Doreen Smethurst of Pittsford says she participated in the on-line voting as did many of her friends. She's been a Public Market patron for 40 years.

"The vendors are wonderful, and the people who come are from all over the world and I bring a lot of international visitors here too and they love it," she said.

The competition wasn't even close. Rochester defeated last year's large market winner, Davis, California, by an overwhelming 2,400 votes.

Rochester Public Market