Welcome2TheBronx’s intern, Isaiah Keaton, contributed to this reporting.
Summertime is one of my favorite times of the year but more importantly, at least for myself, is that it’s the beginning of farmers market season.
Most begin during June and July and go straight through November across The Bronx and each one has their own distinct culture as well as slight differences in what they sell.
Some, like the South Bronx Farmers Market which is entering its 3rd season, offers sustainably sourced and raised meat products, baked goods, and even tasty local Morris Perk—The Bronx’s premier coffee of choice by many local institutions!
This year, The South Bronx Farmers Market is offering cooking classes for kids and is one of only a handful in New York City that actually offer this program so we’re lucky to have them.
Last Tuesday, we took our high school intern Isaiah Keaton to the Borough Hall Greenmarket at 161st and Grand Concourse in front of Joyce Kilmer Park where he learned a little bit about the history of the Greenmarket program.
Greenmarket is an organization founded in 1976 to provide all New Yorkers fresh produce from local farms within a 200 mile radius. It’s essentially a trade off; slightly higher prices for an immensely higher quality. Juice drinks sold have natural flavor, meaning no sugar or chemicals added. That’s not all, the cows are fed more organic food resulting in a more purified milk. Farmers markets are more organic, healthier, and even provide recipes for delicious dishes utilizing ingredients from the markets.
Low-income residents of New York who qualify for SNAP/EBT food benefits are encouraged to buy at farmers markets through a program called Health Bucks. Health Bucks provide customers who use SNAP/EBT with $2 vouchers$5 they spend in at participating farmers markets. The program runs from July through September.
So where can you find your nearest Greenmarket or farmers market in The Bronx?
Well, we have you covered with this handy interactive map that shows you locations, hours, and days of operation! If there’s a market not listed, please let us know so that we can update it!
To learn more check out:
GrowNYC Greenmarkets
Harvest Home Markets
