Nothing Brings New Yorkers Together Like the Greenmarket at Union Square

Nothing brings New Yorkers together like the Greenmarket at Union Square in Manhattan. While there are many such markets across the boroughs, Union Square is by far one of the largest. From its inception in 1976 with just a few farmers, it has grown to over 140 participating members, including farmers, fishers, bakers, wine makers and other merchants as well.  It is said that up to 60,000 people shop there on a market day.  Whether you are a restaurateur picking up supplies for your kitchen, a home cook loading up on fresh produce and meat for the week, or even someone passing by to pick up a quick snack or meal on the way to or from work, there is something for everyone at the market.

From the practical perspective of a New Yorker, the Union Square Greenmarket is a great option to grab what you need for a week of meals at home, without the need to drive to a mega-sized grocery store. A lot of people bring their own reusable bags with them. Certainly, it is better for the environment and there are plenty of stylish, repurposed bags to be found for market days. It is also an enormous support for local producers of every kind of fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, and so on. Participating vendors all hail from New York or neighboring states, reducing the cost and environmental impact of getting their goods into Manhattan.

Every market day, there are cooking demonstrations at the main market information tent, and if you are as obsessed with cookbooks as I, you could check the website for cookbook signing events!  It is also impressive that the market offers educational workshops on nutrition every other Monday, starting July 1.

If you are looking to give back to the community and learn more about food security, there are also individual volunteer opportunities for those 18 and older. You must attend one of the monthly orientation meetings prior to working as a volunteer.

Another element that I find to be perhaps the most rewarding with this and other greenmarkets as getting to know the vendors personally. Every Saturday, whenever possible, I would grab my canvas bags and march my way up the street to the market. There was this incredible couple, Barbara and Joey, who would drive in from New Jersey on market days and set up their tent. They made the most delicious flatbread pizzas with various farm-fresh ingredients. I cannot say how many evenings I heated up one or two, or even three of my pizzas to enjoy with a glass of wine and a movie. I got to know them over the course of perhaps a decade until they decided they wanted to retire from the business. We would share stories and photos and I remembered feeling so bittersweet eating the last of the pizzas we had in the freezer. 

Lynn, the goat-cheese woman, was another. Her recipes for various spreads and logs made from her goats were just outstanding. I would see her faithfully on market days, always with a smile, or mostly always with a smile.

Knowing where your food comes from is so important and knowing the people producing it even more so.  There are many ways for people of all income levels to buy at the market, lest the price of locally sourced products steer some people away.  If you haven’t made it to Union Square on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, grab your reusable bag and meet the wonderful people bringing the fresh and locally grown products right to us.

https://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket/manhattan-union-square-m