Visited: August 30th, Sunday Late Morning.
Open: 9-5, Sundays, July-November.
SIZE
Small. The market has around 6 stands.
VENDORS
Very nice vendors who are upbeat and lively.
Samples: Offered peach and nectarine samples.
QUALITY OF FOOD
Very tasty food. Pasta is delicious and peppers have a delightful kick. Norwich Meadows Farm offers organic produce. The bakers at Meredith’s Bread bakes with the most local ingredients they can find. Stannard Farm’s Pork and Beef is all natural – the animals received no hormones or antibiotics. American Seafood Inc. offers wild fish, never farmed.
VARIETY
Vegetables:
Artichokes, Basil, Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Herbs, Jalapeños, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions, Peppers, Potatoes, Shallots, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Zucchini.
Fruit:
Whole: Apples (Ginger Gold, Mutsu, Paula Red), Cantaloupe, Honeydew Melon, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Tomatoes (Baby, Grape, Heirloom, Low Acid), Watermelon.
Fruit Products: Apple Cider, Assorted Jams.
Bread Products:
Baked Goods: Brownies, Cookies, Biscotti, Peaches, Apple Turnovers, Muffins, Assorted Pies, Quiches, Donuts, Assorted Cakes, Dog Biscuits.
Pasta (Hudson River Valley Farm): Linguini (Carrot, Whole Wheat), Penne (Tricolore), Ravioli (Spinach and Cheese, Cheese).
Bread (Meredith’s Bread): Rolls, Loaves, Sandwich Breads.
Seafood (American Seafood Inc.):
Tuna, Swordfish, Oysters, Mussels, Steamers, Clams, Porgys, Whiting, Bass, Cod, Pollack, Hake, Flounder, Sole, Snapper, Scallops.
Meat (Stannard Farm):
Pork (all cuts, sausages).
Beef (all cuts, ground).
Animal Byproducts:
Norwich Meadows Farm: Organic Milk, Yogurt (Plain, Raspberry).
Breezy Hill Orchards: Eggs.
Miscellaneous:
Flowers
Honey
Recycling Batteries
Stannard Farm: Yarn
SEASONAL CONSISTENCE
The only produce in season that the 92nd Street Market did not offer on this day was cauliflower, celery, garlic, radishes, spinach, turnips, blackberries and blueberries.
WHAT’S UNIQUE?
The 92nd Street Greenmarkets offers more types of peppers than I had believed existed. Stannard Farm displayed 10 different kinds of peppers – from Bell Peppers to Green Peppers. Peppers add depth and sophistication to dishes, so the wide variety allows for interesting medleys the customers should try out! In addition, the market has a Battery Recycling station, at which residents of the East 92nd Street Area can deposit their dead batteries – what better way to avoid toxic chemicals seeping into the earth and into our waters from landfills?
PRICING
Prices are not bad, but the organic produce is a bit pricey.
Organic Peppers: $4.00/lb
Organic Mixed Greens: $16.00/lb
Scallops: $13.99/lb
Carrot Linguini: $5.00/box
Apple Cider: $2.00/16 oz
Eggs: $4.00/dozen
Carrots: $3.00/lb
Honeydew Melon: $3.00 each
ACTUALLY LOCAL?
The farms represented at the 92nd Street Farmer’s Market range in location from Cambridge, New York to Hampton Bays, New York.
CONVENIENCE
The 92nd Street Greenmarket is in a practical location but does not get the amount of business it deserves. On a late Sunday morning, many do their grocery shopping, yet the market had fairly few customers. The market is on the skirt of the Holmes Towers Park, which has trees and some scattered benches. The market is also near the Marriott Hotel, making this market the first one I’d seen to be near a hotel. Considering the residential area and beautiful surroundings of the market, the only reasons that could explain its dearth of business would be the effect of the recession, or perhaps I visited at the off-peak hour.
NAVIGATION
It is very easy to navigate this market.
EBT STAMPS ACCEPTED… along with Credit Cards and Debit Cards.
FINAL COMMENTS
With all that the 92nd Street Greenmarket offers, I have high hopes for this market. Whether one is staying at the Marriott visiting Manhattan for the first time, or a dweller of the Holmes Towers the 92nd Street Greenmarket deserves a visit.
