You can never have too many farmers' markets. If that isn't someone's slogan, it should be. This weekend, downtown NYC will get the gift of two new farmers' market locations.
Both markets will run starting this Saturday, and every Saturday, 10am - 2pm until December 23.
The markets will be managed by Real Food Markets, a company that runs outdoor markets for farmers, farmer co-ops, food artisans, and hand-picked purveyors of first-rate regional, seasonal, and traditional foods.
Real Food Markets are different from farmers’ markets, where all vendors are producers. A Real Food Market is more like outdoor markets in Europe: alongside farmers and bakers there will be food artisans and purveyors such as cheesemongers. Raw ingredients—meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, produce—will be regional. The region for Real Food Markets—the nine states of the Northeast—is larger than at most farmers’ markets, such as the Union Square market.
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i've been following this Real Market vs. Green market story--that's how the journos have been covering the inception of Real Market although I am curious if any of the vendors in question feel so adversarial about it-- and am very intrigued to go on Saturday. It reminds me of our discussion a few months ago about trying to eat locally for a finite period of time.
Lisa,
Send us back a report and photos! We have a reporter going, but info from readers is always good. Perhaps you'll cook a meal Saturday night with your loot?
It seemed to me that Nina Planck set up the framework of "greenmarket vs. real market" in the NYT article covering her new endeavor. I like the Real Market idea, but I also adore the Greenmarket and her snippy comments left a sour taste in my mouth.
That said, I'm sure there will be some great vendors and interesting wares at the Real Market. Maybe it's somewhere between greenmarket idealism, Whole Foods pragmatic organic and the soon-to-be Walmart organic?
I didn't read Planck's comments as snippy, but honest. But I will admit that I am a big fan of hers and the markets she used to run in DC and London look a LOT different than what we got going on in Union Square. I think her basic position is that greenmarkets in this city are good, but they could be much better.
Just because something has the stamp of the Greenmarket on it does not make it the sort of “honest” food that you might want. I think the point of her markets is that it may not necessarily all have to be local or that we should restrict coops. But it should have a clean heritage and be an honest product. And I expect that her markets will have a lot more information on products and the farmers will be enthusiastic to talk about their ingredients. If you are the kind of person who cares about really knowing what is in a product or where it came from or who made it -- I guess you will probably frequent, or favor, her markets.
PS: And, the markets coincide with the release of her book, so you canÂ’t underestimate her desire to bring more attention on the subject of farmerÂ’s markets.
...But I'm confused, wasn't Planck booted from the Greenmarket precisely because she wanted it to be even more strict in terms of it's rules about region, season, producer? Maybe I misread that.
Regardless, it's all good news. I remember growing up in New York in the 70's and 80's and the grocery scene was so bleak.
I am SO excited. i will be a neighbor (and beneficiary)of the south village market. the only super nearby produce are the tired onions at the deli on the corner. FYI, there's a lovely shadey park of benches right beside the market to relax in - you can nibble on some of your loot before toting it home. enjoy!