Serious Eats: New York - Market Scene: NY

The First Strawberries Have Arrived at the Union Square Greenmarket

2013-05-17T17:00:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: The First Strawberries Have Arrived at the Union Square Greenmarket

[Photographs: Ben Fishner]

In season now: Ramps, Green Garlic, Rhubarb, Fiddleheads, Spring Onions, Nettles, Spring Radishes, Asparagus, some Strawberries.
In season soon: Lots more Strawberries, Peas, Pea Greens, Pole Beans.

Alright, ramps are good and green garlic is definitely a treat. I'm not disputing that. But nothing matches the joy of the May's first strawberries, which arrived at the market this week. That's right, that picture you see up there is not from a farmers market somewhere on the West Coast; those are real, live New Jersey strawberries. Bring on the rest of the summer fruit!

We also saw lots of rhubarb, asparagus, late season ramps, and all other manner of spring aliums this week at the market. Plus some of the best radishes of the year. Click through the slideshow for a closer look.

Also, this week I learned that in addition to EBT cards, the Union Square Greenmarket is now accepting credit and debit cards. Stop by the information booth at the market and swipe your card in exchange for tokens that can be used around the market. The deal is that you've got to buy tokens, each worth a dollar, in $5 increments. There's a $2 transaction fee (so $5 in tokens would cost you $7, and $100 in tokens would cost you $102). Great for the days when you're cash strapped but can't resist the ramps. Or the rhubarb. Or the strawberries, or the poultry, or the bacon.

The Union Square Greenmarket is open on the North and West sides of Union Square Park every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

About the author: Ben Fishner is Serious Eats' advertising operations administrator, and he is currently planning his next meal. He also blogs at Ben Cooks Everything. Follow him on Twitter or Tumblr, won't you?

Ramps, Green Garlic, Fiddleheads and More Spring Treats at the Union Square Greenmarket

2013-05-03T17:30:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Ramps, Green Garlic, Fiddleheads and More Spring Treats at the Union Square Greenmarket

[Photographs: Ben Fishner]

In season now: Ramps, Green Garlic, Fiddleheads, Over Wintered Greens, Some Asparagus.
In season soon: More Asparagus, Rhubarb, Strawberries, Peas, Pea Greens, Pole Beans.

Spring is in full swing at the Union Square Greenmarket and at Greenmarkets around the city. It started a few weeks back with the first green garlic and, yes, ramps, and as of this week we've been seeing asparagus, fiddleheads, and other springtime goodies. Click through the slideshow for a closer look at what's turning up at the market lately.

The Union Square Greenmarket is open on the North and West sides of Union Square Park every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

About the author: Ben Fishner is Serious Eats' advertising operations administrator, and he is currently planning his next meal. He blogs at Ben Cooks Everything. Follow him on Twitter or Tumblr, won't you?

Market Scene: Winter Settles in at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

2012-12-07T16:30:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Market Scene: Winter Settles in at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

[Photographs: Lauren Rothman]

In season now: Apples, Pears, Winter Squash, Beets, Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, Cabbage, Broccoli, Hardy Greens
In season soon: More of the same!

The Greenmarket these days is looking, well, a little gray. Yup, it's winter, and the local produce you can get now is what you'll be getting clean through March or April: apples and pears; squash and roots; onions and crucifers. It's all delicious, but it's not too varied.

So on that note, Market Scene is going into hibernation for the winter. We'll see you back here in the spring when our favorite early-season vegetables start to appear, though we may pop up with highlights from winter markets from time to time!

The Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket is open on the Northwest corner of Prospect Park every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

About the author: Lauren Rothman is a former Serious Eats intern, a freelance catering chef, and an obsessive chronicler of all things culinary. Try the original recipes on her blog, For the Love of Food, and follow her on Twitter @Lochina186.

Market Scene: Post-Thanksgiving Fruits and Veggies at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

2012-11-23T14:00:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Market Scene: Post-Thanksgiving Fruits and Veggies at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

[Photographs: Lauren Rothman]

In season now: Apples, Pears, Winter Squash, Beets, Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, Cabbage, Broccoli, Hardy Greens
In season soon: More of the same!

So: it's Friday morning, Black Friday morning, to be exact, and you're feeling a little guilty about last night and all that tasty food you stuffed into your increasingly bloated gut, eh? We've all been there. Right about now, you're thinking about what you'll eat this week to make up for the Thanksgiving free-for-all.

The Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket is here to help you out. Why not stop by tomorrow and pick up some vitamin-heavy greens, crisp fall fruit, and hearty root vegetables (that you won't cover in scalded cream and mash)? That's my plan, at least. Hope to see you there.

The Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket is open on the Northwest corner of Prospect Park every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The 2012 Guide to Thanksgiving at the Union Square Greenmarket

2012-11-16T19:00:00Z

[Photographs: Ben Fishner]

Thanksgiving is the most important home-cooked meal of the year. It holds, then, that you should be looking for the very best ingredients to cook with. Where better to go than the Greenmarket?

A word on the Union Square market in the run-up to Thanksgiving: it's crowded. You're not the only person who thought to shop here. Prepare yourself for the crowds and they won't be so bad. And on the bright side, the Greenmarket before Thanksgiving is one of the best scenes for serious eaters in New York, right up there with the Russ and Daughters counter before Yom Kippur: New Yorkers and the farmers who serve them excited about good food, with tons of goodwill and character to spare. It's smart to get to the market before the rush on Wednesday, the day before the holiday, but I wouldn't miss the frantic energy of the afternoon before Thanksgiving at the Greenmarket for the world.

After a couple of weeks of being displaced up in Madison Square, the Union Square Greenmarket is back to being in, well, Union Square. The market will be open on Wednesday, November 21st, but if possible, shop Monday or even Saturday, when the crowds will be more manageable.

Make a Donation

While you're at the market, fill up an extra bag to donate to needy New Yorkers still recovering from Sandy at the Greenmarket info tent.

Before we get to all the wonderful goodies for your Thanksgiving table, remember that the Greenmarket is still accepting food donations for New Yorkers recovering from Hurricane Sandy. All you need to do is fill up an extra bag of food while shopping and drop it off at the market's information tent. All of the donations go to City Harvest, where they are prepared and distributed. This program makes it incredibly easy to support fellow New Yorkers in need and Greenmarket farmers at the same time.

The Bird

It's turkey time, you guys!

Okay, now that we've helped out those who need it most this season, let's get to the turkey. The Greenmarket's a great place to pick up a bird. There are lots of great vendors offering birds at the market, and for a complete guide to which are still taking orders, I will defer here to the Greenmarket's comprehensive turkey buying guide. For my money, I think it's pretty much impossible to do better than the birds at DiPaola Turkey Farm. Don't wait—reserve your turkey as soon as possible.

Veggies and One-Stop Shops

Jerusalem artichokes from Paffenroth Gardens.

When doing shopping for Thanksgiving, it's hard to take my usual leisurely stroll around the market, scoping out what looks best at each stand. Instead I tend to stick to a few stands that I know will have what I'm looking for.

Paffenroth Gardens has a fantastic selection. While the supermarket has onions and shallots, Paffenroth has at least half a dozen varieties of onion and three types of shallots. They've got butternut squash and sugar pumpkins, but also blue hubbards and delicate and spaghetti squash and a half dozen others for good measure. Most everything, including carrots and onions, can be bought loose or discounted in prepacked bags, great for the quantities you need on the holiday. They've also got a great selection of herbs, and a few unexpected selections (burdock root, anyone?).

Keith's Farm (Wednesday, Saturday) has a smaller selection than Paffenroth, but it's my other go to—Keith's got everyone beat on quality. From their famous rocambole garlic to a wide selection of greens and incredibly fragrant herbs, squash and root veggies, Keith's has some of the most beautiful and delicious product at the market.

Norwich Meadows Farm is also a great one-stop shop. They stock an incredibly wide-ranging selection of vegetables, almost all in immaculate condition. Varieties of onions and potatoes abound, as do leeks, scallions, radishes, turnips, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, greens, squash and just about any other vegetable you could want. They're certified organic, so expect to pay a bit more than at other farms that might not have that certification.

Butternut squash from Berried Treasures.

My other favorite, while not as cut out for one-stop shopping, is Berried Treasures, purveyors of some of the most flavorful sweet produce out there. They don't have everything, but what they do have is often best-in-class.

Mushrooms

Bulich Mushrooms has my favorite selection of mushrooms, from white button mushrooms to more exotic fungi. Madura Farms also stocks a great selection of mushrooms along with a wide range of vegetables including brussels sprouts on the stalk and a beautiful array of winter squash.

Herbs

Stokes Farm has every herb you need, and then some.

Again, Keith's Farm is my go-to for herbs, but Stokes Farm has them beat on sheer selection for the big day: thyme, tarragon, oregano, italian and curly parsley, cilantro, and more were all in stock this week.

Bread and Stuffing

Fresh loaves at Bread Alone.

Bread Alone sells some of the best bread you can find at the market. It's a great starting point for your homemade stuffing. They also sell bags of unseasoned stuffing mix, pre-dried and cubed bread ready to be seasoned and doctored up as you see fit—a hell of a timesaver, and a pretty good deal at $3 per 12 oz. bag. Hot Bread Kitchen also sells great bread for stuffing (and last year they had stuffing mix also, though I have not seen it yet this year). Our Daily Bread sells great loaves of bread but no stuffing mix to speak of.

Gifts for the Host

Going over to a friend or family member's for the holiday? No time to cook? Don't show up empty handed; the Greenmarket, once again, has you covered. If your host is a serious eater, curry favor with a pouch of Keith's Farm's famous garlic. It's truly great stuff. Beth's Farm Kitchen's jams make a good gift, too. My favorite, though, has to be a tin of the one-of-a-kind ultra-crunchy Martin's Pretzels.

What Else?

What did we overlook? Let us know your favorite Thanksgiving tips for Greenmarket shopping in the comments. Happy Thanksgiving, and I'll see you at the market!

The Union Square Greenmarket is open on the North and West sides of Union Square Park every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Look for the super-sized pre-Thanksgiving market on Wednesday, November 21.

Market Scene: Madison Square is the Temporary Home of the Union Square Greenmarket

2012-11-09T18:15:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Market Scene: Madison Square is the Temporary Home of the Union Square Greenmarket

[Photographs: Ben Fishner]

As we reported on Tuesday, the Union Square Greenmarket has been displaced by emergency vehicles parked in union square and is temporarily located at 23rd Street and Broadway, on the west side of Madison Square park and in adjacent Worth Square. The market will be in this location today and tomorrow, Saturday 11/10. There's no confirmation yet if next week's markets will be back to Union Square, but it seems unlikely. We'll keep you posted on that matter, or you can follow the Greenmarket on Twitter or Facebook for updates.

The Greenmarket is temprarily located along the west side of Madison Square Park and the adjacent traffic triangles.

Although it's spread out across the west side of the park and a handful of traffic islands—look both ways before you cross from Tamarack Hollow to Flying Pigs Farm—nearly every farmer from the usual Friday lineup is in attendance today, aside from a few farms that were hurt by Sandy, including Blue Moon Fish and Stokes Farm. The market is still in full swing. Click through the slideshow for a closer look, and stop by the market this weekend! Farmers can use your support, as always, and shoppers are encouraged to fill an extra bag with produce to donate to City Harvest for Sandy relief right at the market.

The Union Square Greenmarket is temporarily located on the West side of Madison Square Park at Broadway and 23rd Street and in adjacent Worth Square, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The market will be at this location this Wednesday, 11/7, Friday, 11/9, and Saturday, 11/10. All regular Tuesday markets except for Staten Island Ferry Terminal are open today, 11/6, in their regular locations. For the latest updates, follow the Greenmarket on Twitter or Facebook.

About the author: Ben Fishner is Serious Eats' advertising operations administrator, and he's just happy to have power and hot water back. Follow him on Twitter or Tumblr, won't you?

Market Scene: Getting Back to Normal at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

2012-11-09T13:45:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Market Scene: Getting Back to Normal at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

[Photographs: Lauren Rothman]

In season now: Apples, Pears, Winter Squash, Beets, Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, Cabbage, Broccoli, Hardy Greens
In season soon: More of the same!

The tri-state area is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Sandy: there are still more saddening photos to see, more heartbreaking stories to hear, and lines still forming at gas stations. But in spite of everything that's been terrible about the past two weeks, one of the the brightest beacons of hope in the ordeal has been watching New Yorkers band together and help each other to move forward.

That's what the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket was all about last week: pitching in and helping out. Some vendors weren't able to make it; the much-beloved Blue Moon Fish, based out of Long Island, won't be back until next week at least. Maxwell's Farm, located in Changewater, New Jersey, had their roof blown off their barn during the storm, but they were at the market nonetheless. The market's usual compost dropoff wasn't in operation, so Evolutionary Organics of New Paltz put out their own bins to collect vegetable scraps. There was a food and supply drive, and across the street from the market a little girl and her dad sold hot cocoa and donated the proceeds to a hurricane relief fund.

The market's on again tomorrow, and it's important that we all get out there and support our small farmers for the work they do—laboring through the most intense weather conditions to bring us fresh food each week.

The Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket is open on the Northwest corner of Prospect Park every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Union Square Greenmarket is Up and Running at Madison Square Park

2012-11-06T19:00:00Z

While Union Square is full of emergency vehicles, the Greenmarket has temporarily relocated to Madison Square Park at Broadway and 23rd Street. [Photographs: Ben Fishner]

Visitors to Union Square on Monday were greeted not by the usual Greenmarket stalls, but by dozens of Con Edison emergency vehicles. Hopefully, plenty of customers that arrived saw the lone chalkboard amid the emergency vehicles proclaiming "FARMERS MARKET IS AT BROADWAY + 23RD ST." Of course, shoppers might also have seen the announcement on Twitter, Facebook, or elsewhere online, where Greenmarket staff have been trying to spread the word that the market is far from cancelled, merely located to the west side of Madison Square Park and adjacent Worth Square (you may know the spot as the sometime home of Madison Square Eats market). The market will be in this location through this Saturday, 11/10.

Last year, the Greenmarket's parent organization GrowNYC collected donations to help farmers hit hard by Hurricane Irene. Following Hurricane Sandy, however, the Greenmarket has set up a program with City Harvest to take donations from the market to needy New Yorkers. Shoppers just fill up an extra bag while they're shopping and drop it off at the market's information booth. All of the donations go to City Harvest, where they are prepared and distributed. This program makes it incredibly easy to support fellow New Yorkers in need and Greenmarket farmers at the same time.

The Greenmarket is working with City Harvest on a program to make it easy for shoppers to donate food right at the market.

While Sandy wasn't as rough on farmers as Irene was, there are still a number of farms that lost hoop houses and saw damage to their farms and crops; fisheries seemed to be hit hardest, and in fact none were at the market yesterday. Farmer Bill Maxwell of Maxwell's Farm told me that he lost three hoop houses and the roof to one of his barns. Power was out until Monday at his farm in Changewater, New Jersey, but his spirits seemed relatively high, feeling lucky that the damage to his business was limited.

So please, don't let the trucks in Union Square stop you from shopping at the Greenmarket and supporting local farmers. And while you're enjoying the change of scenery at the market's temporary location, fill up an extra bag at your favorite farm's stand for a fellow New Yorker in need.

About the author: Ben Fishner is Serious Eats' advertising operations administrator, and he's just happy to have power and hot water back. Follow him on Twitter or Tumblr, won't you?

Market Scene: a Time of Transition at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

2012-10-26T14:15:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Market Scene: a Time of Transition at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

[Photographs: Lauren Rothman]

In season now: Apples, Pears, Winter Squash, Beets, Potatoes, Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, Cabbage, Broccoli, Hardy Greens
In season soon: More of the same

It's a funny time at the Greenmarket right now: summer standbys like corn and cucumbers still make an occasional appearance as farmers try to eke out the last of their warm-weather crops, but they're somewhat overshadowed by an abundance of cool-weather favorites like root vegetables galore, crucifers like cabbage and broccoli, and overflowing crates of crisp, sweet apples and pears. At tomorrow's market, summer crops will likely disappear altogether, making more room in your kitchen for fruit crisps and crumbles. Check it out in the morning and see for yourself!

Click through the slideshow above to take a closer look at last week's selections.

The Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket is open on the Northwest corner of Prospect Park every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Market Scene: All Kinds of Winter Squash at the Union Square Greenmarket

2012-10-19T18:00:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Market Scene: All Kinds of Winter Squash at the Union Square Greenmarket

[Photographs: Ben Fishner]

In season now: lots and lots of winter squash, peppers, eggplant, last of the tomatoes and stone fruit, beans, potatoes, fresh herbs, new apples and pears, and plenty more.
In season soon: More root vegetables, more broccoli and brussels sprouts and other members of the brassicae family. Winter is coming.

Erin's experience with pumpkin-flavored foods this week had her wondering what, exactly, a pumpkin tatses like(hint: it doesn't taste like a scented candle, as many grocery manufacturers seem to believe). What better way to refresh your memory than by visiting the Greenmarket and grabbing an actual pumpkin? Or delicata? Or blue hubbard, kobocha, golden acorn, and stripetti? Click through the slideshow for a closer look at all of the winter squash we've been seeing around the market lately.

The Union Square Greenmarket is open on the North and West sides of Union Square Park every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Market Scene: Fall Arrives at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

2012-10-12T15:30:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Market Scene: Fall Arrives at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

[Photographs: Lauren Rothman]

In season now: Apples, Pears, Winter Squash, Beets, Potatoes, Carrots, Turnips, Cabbage, Hardy Greens
In season soon: More of the same

Summer favorites like corn, tomatoes and eggplant were in scarcer supply at the Greenmarket last Saturday, but it was hard to be depressed about that when surrounded by the bounties of fall that appeared in their place: crisp, tart apples; many-hued pears; and a multitude of cold-loving crops like broccoli, cauliflower, turnips and greens. I say bring on the roasts, soups, stews, pies and compotes of autumn: I'm ready.

Click through the slideshow above to take a closer look at these fall beauties, and make sure to check out the market tomorrow (bring a sweater)!

The Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket is open on the Northwest corner of Prospect Park every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Did You Guys Know It's Fall? Allow the Union Square Greenmarket to Prove It To You

2012-10-05T18:00:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Did You Guys Know It's Fall? Allow the Union Square Greenmarket to Prove It To You

[Photographs: Ben Fishner]

In season now: peppers, eggplant, last of the tomatoes and stone fruit, beans, potatoes, fresh herbs, new apples and pears, and plenty more.
In season soon: More winter squash, more root vegetables, more broccoli and brussels sprouts and other members of the brassicae family. Winter is coming.

It's clearly fall at the Greenmarket. Winter squash, apples, and the family brassicae begin their approach over all the late summer produce that's hanging on for dear life. Click through the slideshow for a closer look.

The Union Square Greenmarket is open on the North and West sides of Union Square Park every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Market Scene Special Edition: Sunrise at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

2012-09-28T16:45:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Market Scene Special Edition: Sunrise at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

[Photographs: Lauren Rothman]

In season now: Tomatoes, Corn, Peppers, Eggplant, Apples, Pears, Winter Squash, Root Vegetables, Hardy Greens
In season soon: More Root Vegetables, Cabbage, Onions

It's Friday afternoon, and you've got big plans for your Saturday: you're going to wake up early, go for a run in the park, and still make it to the Greenmarket just as it opens, so you can be there in the beautiful dawn light and have your pick of the best of the best before the crowds get there. Sounds romantic, doesn't it? And then...Friday night happens. You go to bed late and either don't set your alarm or sleep right through it. Sound familiar?

That's where I come in. For this special edition of Market Scene, I actually did wake up before sunrise. I got to Grand Army Plaza right after the vendors, and snapped some shots of them setting up and welcoming their first customers. Serious Eats: waking up early, so you don't have to.

Take a peek at the slideshow above, and if you find the scene inspiring (it really is wonderful to be there when things are nice and quiet, before the multitudes of Park Slope dogs and babies arrive), then check out the market nice and early tomorrow morning!

Market Scene: Peppers Hot and Sweet at the Union Square Greenmarket

2012-09-21T16:45:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Market Scene: Peppers Hot and Sweet at the Union Square Greenmarket

[Photographs: Ben Fishner]

In season now: peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, stone fruit, some strawberries and blueberries, green beans, romano beans, cranberry beans, potatoes, fresh herbs, new apples and pears, and plenty more.
In season soon: More apples and pears, more grapes, more winter squash.

This week, we turn our attention to one of the early fall highlights of the market: peppers of every shape, size, and color are all over the market right now, from big sweet red bell peppers to neon yellow, mouth-burning specimens. Click through the slideshow for a closer look at the family capsicum.

The Union Square Greenmarket is open on the North and West sides of Union Square Park every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Market Scene: the Best of Summer Produce at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

2012-09-14T17:00:00Z

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Market Scene: the Best of Summer Produce at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket

[Photographs: Lauren Rothman]

In season now: Peaches, Plums, Raspberries, Blackberries, Tomatoes, Corn, Eggplant, Cucumbers, Summer Squash, Beets and more!
In season soon: More Root Vegetables, Cabbage, Winter Squash Hardy Greens

Is there a better time of year to be a Greenmarket shopper? Judging by the crowds at Grand Army Plaza last week, definitely not. People gathered up highly anticipated corn, ripe red tomatoes, and sweet stone fruits by the pound. Check out the slideshow above for a peek at these August wonders, and be sure to make some time for the market tomorrow to grab some up for yourself!