Visited: August 2nd, Sunday Early Afternoon.
Open: 9-5, Sundays, Year Round.
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY WEBSITE
SIZE
Large, if one includes the small market on the southwest corner of 77th and Columbus. Approximately 15 stands.
VENDORS
Very interactive vendors. They display signs about the quality of their food in an alluring and effective manner. One stand (the Grazin’ Angus Acres Farm) had a copy of The Omnivore’s Dilemma propped up on its table.
Samples: Extensive. Beet Salad, Jams, Mozzarella, Wines, Cheeses.
QUALITY OF FOOD
Amazing. Mozzarella is one-of-a-kind and milk is so pure. Wine is sustainable. Cheese is gourmet. Fish is never farmed. Some produce is organic. Milk is organic. Chickens eat organic feed (grass), pasture raised. Beef is Animal Welfare Approved, grass-fed, sustainable.
VARIETY
Vegetables:
Basil, Beets, Corn, Cucumbers, Dragon’s Tongue, Eggplant, Garlic, Haricot Vert, Herbs, Kirbys, Lettuce, New Zealand Spinach, Peas, Peppers, Pickles, Potatoes, Radishes, Sorrel, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Wax Beans, Zucchini.
Fruit:
Whole: Apples (McIntosh), Apricots, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Nectarines, Olives, Peaches, Strawberries, Tomatoes (Baby and Regular).
Fruit Products: Assorted Jams, Tomato Sauce, Semi-Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Wines (Treleaven Wines): Assorted Wines.
Bread Products:
Baked Goods: Pizza, Granola, Muffins, Cookies, Brownies, Rugelach, Macaroons, Scones, Donuts, Cinnabons, Cakes, Assorted Pies, Quiches.
Breads: Fresh Breads, Sandwich Breads, Foccaccia Breads.
Pasta (Knoll Krest Farm): Linguini/Corkscrew (Beet, Whole Wheat, Spinach, Plain, Tricolore).
Seafood (Seatuck Fish):
Scallops, Tuna, Flounder, Blackfish, Bluefish, Calamari, Clams, Mussels, Fluke, Swordfish, Skate, Trout (Smoked/Fresh).
Meat:
Grazin’ Angus Acres: All cuts of Angus Beef, Half or Whole Chicken.
Tamarack Hollow Farm: All cuts of Pork, Sausage, Bacon.
Animal Byproducts:
Artisan Cheese & Yogurt: Aged and Fresh Cheeses, Butter, Yogurt.
Milk Thistle Farm: Heavy Cream, Whole Milk, Chocolate Milk, Half and Half, 2% Milk, Skim Milk.
Eggs
Hoboken Farms: Fresh Mozzarella Cheese.
Miscellaneous:
Mint Tea
Flowers
Plants
SEASONAL CONSISTENCE
The produce in season but that this market did not provide on this day was broccoli, cabbage, carrots, leeks, onions, squash, swiss chard, turnips, currants and plums. However, the market offered above and beyond those listed on the chart (See Seasonal Chart).
CENYC.org Information for this market
WHAT’S UNIQUE?
This market is unique in countless ways. Not only had I never seen fresh Olives, Semi-Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Dragon’s Tongue or Olive Oil at any Greenmarket before, but the market also has some sustainable and truly “green” practices. For example, the organic produce stand has a “Make Your Own Salad” offer in which one shovels in whichever greens one wants into a bag, weighs it, and buys it – that simple! In addition, the Milk Thistle Farm stand utilizes a bottle deposit system in which one pays a dollar more than the listed price for the milk of interest, but if he/she brings the empty bottle back when finished, the vendor gives back the dollar! What a great way to recycle and keep the customers coming. Lastly, since Grazin’ Angus Acres, does not provide enough chickens for the demand (especially on busy Sundays), the vendor has business cards sitting on the table with an email, with which one can request a chicken for the next week. This way, no fresh, savory chickens go to waste!
PRICING
Fair prices.
Dry Riesling Wine: $16.00
Tuna: $15.99/lb
Quart of Milk: $4.00 (if bottle is returned)
Smoked Trout: $10 each
Whole Chicken: $7.00/lb
Filet Mignon: $31/lb
Bacon: $11.00/lb
Nectarines: $2.80/lb
ACTUALLY LOCAL?
Farms range in location from Ghent, New York to Salt Point, New York, to Columbia County, New York.
CONVENIENCE
Prime location. Right beside the Museum of Natural History, the park next to it, and popular stores across the street. However, “Shake Shack” is across the street as well, which could pose some frustrating competition to the market because “Shake Shack” is exactly the notion Greenmarkets push against. Nevertheless, the market is close to many residences on Central Park West and in between Avenues.
NAVIGATION
Not hard to navigate; only, the part of the market that sells mozzarella and olives is a bit hidden – one has to enter the flea market square on the southwest corner of 77th and Columbus to have access to it.
EBT STAMPS Not Accepted.
FINAL COMMENTS
I think that this farmer’s market has food that most definitely rivals that of Union Square. I go to this market all the time and suggest anyone in the area to give it a try. My only small complaint is that it is open only once a week: Sundays
