Check Out These Awesome Farmer’s Markets In NYC!
There’s no better feeling than the one you get when you buy local and support small businesses near you! And one of the best ways to support small businesses is by purchasing produce from your local farmer’s market. New York City is thriving with farmer’s markets selling everything you need. Here’s a list of the best ones!
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union square greenmarket
Union Square Greenmarket is a market by GrowNYC open year-round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. During peak season, the market can house up to 140 farmers, bakers, and fishers. The market sells items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, artisan breads, flowers, meats, wine, specialty foods such as jam and cheese, and maple syrup.
The market holds many fun events for people of all ages. There are cooking demonstrations, food tastings, and tours for schools and adults. The market is also dedicated to being environmentally friendly. They have Zero Waste programs funded by the NYC Department of Sanitation. In addition to this, they have a Green Space with 160 community gardens. It gives people in the community the opportunity to care for the environment while learning how to grow food.
GrowNYC was created in 1970 with the purpose of giving detailed reports on issues such as air quality, traffic, and noise. Now, it’s an environmental non-profit organization in NYC that focuses on providing fresh, locally grown food while taking care of and being mindful of the environment.
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79th street greenmarket
79th Street Greenmarket is another market by GrowNYC. It’s open year-round on Sundays and is located just behind the American Museum of Natural History. Popular items sold at the market are various meats such as grass-fed beef, chicken, and duck. There are also fresh fruits and vegetables, cheese, flowers, eggs, honey, baked goods, and more. During the summertime, the market has an abundance of corn and berries.
Past vendors include Ronnybrook Farm Dairy—a dairy farm from Columbia County, NY selling ice cream, milk, yogurt, and butter—She Wolf Bakery—a bakery from Kings County, NY selling bread—and American Pride Seafood from Suffolk County, NY selling wild-caught fish and shellfish.
The market also has many family-friendly activities such as seasonal celebrations and cooking demonstrations. One event they held in the past was Maple Syrup Day. Visitors could learn about maple syrup and how it is made, as well as look at cool artifacts, join fun contests, and taste-test different samples of maple syrup.
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tompkins square park greenmarket
Tompkins Square Park Greenmarket is a GrowNYC farmer’s market open year-round on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market sells orchard fruit, flowers, specialty produce, meat, baked goods, eggs, and dairy products such as milk and cheese. This market also offers free cooking demonstrations and events for people to attend.
Vendors have included Bread Alone—an artisan bread and pastries vendor from Ulster County, NY—Norwich Meadows Farm which sells organic vegetables from Chenango County, NY, and Stone & Thistle Farm which sells grass-fed meat such as beef, chicken, pork, and lamb from Delaware County, NY.
In addition to this, the market has a compost program and a clothing collection program. The compost program is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the clothing collection is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Seasonal special events are also offered.
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tucker square greenmarket
Tucker Square Greenmarket is a GrowNYC farmer’s market open year-round on Thursdays. The market is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and has a compost program open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Some seasonal vegetables sold there include corn, greens, squash, and eggplant. The market offers a plethora of fruit, including stone fruit, berries, and over 80 types of apples.
Other items sold at the market include gardening items such as flowers and pots, with expert growers there for gardening advice. The market also sells different cheeses, fresh seafood, artisanal baked goods, maple syrup, eggs, and grass-fed beef. Events include cooking demonstrations and seasonal family activities.
Some past vendors have included Locust Grove Fruit Farm—a farm selling berries, orchard fruit, squash, baked goods, and cider from Ulster County, NY—Prospect Hill Orchards—a farm selling small fruit, granola, and baked goods also from Ulster County, NY—and Shannon Brook Farm which sells organic chicken, eggs, pork, and lamb from Schuyler County, NY.
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columbia greenmarket
Columbia Greenmarket is a GrowNYC farmer’s market open year-round on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market has a compost program open Sundays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and a clothing collection program open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sundays. The farmer’s market attendees include a diverse mix of university students, faculty, and staff, as well as staff from the nearby hospital St Luke’s and Upper West Side residents.
Items sold at the market include fresh fruit, milk, yogurt, smoked meats, pickled vegetables, honey, fish, and preserved fruits and vegetables. Past vendors have included Grandpa Farm—a farm selling herbs, vegetables, and fresh flowers from Orange County, NY—Orange County Distillery—a distillery selling whiskey, vodka, gin, and more in Orange County, NY—and Samascott Orchards & Nine Pin Ciderworks which sells strawberries, cider and hard cider, orchard fruit, vegetables, and baked goods from Columbia County, NY.
conclusion
All of these farmer’s markets offer fresh fruits and vegetables, gorgeous flowers, and other unique artisan items such as breads and jams. The next time you’re in need of groceries, consider checking out one of these farmer’s markets and supporting local farms that strive to bring customers the best quality items!
