Visited: July 28th, Tuesday Early Afternoon.
Opens: 8-6, Tuesdays and Thursdays, April-December.
SIZE
Very tiny. Around 3 stands.
VENDORS
Vendors are kind but not very knowledgeable about the food.
Samples: Many. Cherries, Gooseberries, Plums.
QUALITY OF FOOD
Good quality food. The bread is a bit stale, but vegetables are unbelievably fresh. For all produce, crop rotation, planting and pest control are achieved through the safest means possible. All bread products are organic.
VARIETY
Vegetables: beans, garlic, peas, peppers, potatoes, spinach,
Baby Fennel, Basil, Beets (Chiogga, Golden), Bicolor Sweet Corn, Bok Choy, Broccoli Rabe, Cabbage, Carrots, Chard (Swiss, Rainbow, Red), Cilantro, Collard Greens, Cucumbers, Japanese Turnips, Kale, Kirbies, Mustard Greens, Lettuce, Onions, Parsely, Radishes, Scallions, Squash, Tomatillos, Zucchini.
Fruit:
Whole: Apples (Empire, Braebern, Crispin, Fuji, Red Delicious, Ida Red, McIntosh), Apricots, Blueberries, Cherries (Sour, Sweet), Gooseberries, Plums, Tomatoes.
Fruit Products: Fruit Juices (Red Jacket Orchards), Jams – Mango, Blackberry, Raspberry, Cherry, Blueberry, Strawberry, etc.), Apple Syrup, Apple Sauce, Strawberry-Apple Sauce, Apple Cider, Molasses Apple Butter, Apple Glaze, Fruit and Nut Snack Bar, Dried Apples.
Bread Products (Meredith’s Bread):
Baked Goods: Cookies (Large, Small), Quiche, Dog Biscuits, Biscotti, Pies (various types ex. Pecan), Cakes (assorted), Muffins, Scones, Cinnamon Rolls.
Bread: Challah, Sandwich Breads, Baguiettes (assorted; ex. Rye, Whole Wheat).
Miscellaneous:
Dandelions.
SEASONAL CONSISTENCE
The only produce that was in season but that the Zuccotti Park Farmer’s Market did not sell was beans, garlic, peas, peppers, potatoes, spinach and strawberries.
WHAT'S UNIQUE?
Although this market has heavy competition, its variety within the produce and bread product categories is great. The market had (on July 28th) 24 different vegetables to offer. In addition, the “Meredith’s Bread” stand offered a Fruit and Nut Snack Bar, which is convenient and rare for farmer’s markets. It also had an abundance of unique baked goods such as scones and challah bread. Lastly, Meredith’s Bread had a sign posted at the front of the stand listing where each ingredient came from – specific to the farm! I am always interested to know where every facet of the food I eat comes from, and Meredith’s Bread fulfilled my wish – the farthest location from which Meredith’s Bread sourced ingredients was Florida (and that was only one ingredient).
PRICING
Medium Prices.
Blueberries: $4.00/lb
Apples: $1.00/lb
Snack Bar: $2.50 each
Dried Apples: $3.50/bag
Red Jacket Orchards Juice: $1.50/12 oz.
ACTUALLY LOCAL?
The food at this market is all from the New York area. The farms range from Tivoli, New York to Kingston, New York.
CONVENIENCE
The location is prime for business because it is in the center of a square and beside a small park and benches. The stores that border the square are big brand, tourist-attracting shops. However, the farmer’s market is right next to tall “Bubble Tea,” “Smoothie,” and “Falafel” trucks and Hot Dog stands. This competition is especially wounding because the food these trucks sell is so cheap that passers-by would not need to think twice to figure out where they should stop for a snack.
NAVIGATION
Very easy to navigate.
EBT STAMPS Not Accepted.
FINAL COMMENTS
If this farmer’s market moved to a location nearby but not so close to hot dog stands and bubble tea trucks, I think it would get much more business. Because of its extensive vegetable produce, perhaps if the market moved to a more residential niche, people would stop by the vegetable stand more often.
