Fresh Flavors – Buying from Farmers Markets

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By Rachel Derry
Staff Writer LIFamilies

If you have ever had a vegetable garden, you know that there is nothing better than a cherry tomato straight off the vine. As a child I remember sneaking out on the deck to eat them off the plant, long before they ever had a chance to be harvested. Not everyone has the time or the space to have their own vegetable garden or fruit orchard. Our local farmers are more than happy to help fill in that void.

Every year farmers markets are popping up more and more as they continue to grow in popularity. There was a boom in the demand for them between 1994 and 2002. They increased in number by 79% when people decided to start eating healthier and put their trust in local produce. Ever since, farmers have been fulfilling that consumer need by gathering together with other local vendors to create markets that supply everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to bread and cheese.

Farmers markets are already overflowing with the early season’s wealth of fresh fruit and hearty vegetables. Early apples, strawberries, blueberries, and peaches start off the May produce season, we well as carrots, asparagus, and spinach.

Bring your children to a local farmers market and introduce them to the freshest foods available. Many vendors have samples of their products available for your family to taste and possibly find something new that they love.

Long Island has many markets of our own spread out across Nassau and Suffolk County. Most open around the middle of May and will stay open through the end of October. Below is a list of some of Long Island’s Farmers Markets and their dates:

Nassau County:
BAYVILLE: Bayville Commons parking lot, corner of Bayville and Ludlum avenues. Open Saturdays from 8:30 am to noon; May 29 to Sept. 4.

GLEN COVE: Village Square. Open Sundays from 7 am to noon; June 6 to Nov. 21

HICKSVILLE: Kennedy Memorial Park, between Jerusalem and Broadway, near the LIRR station. Open Sundays from 9 am to 2 pm; June 27 to Nov. 21

LOCUST VALLEY: Forest Avenue, across from post office. Open Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm; June 5 to late November

LONG BEACH: Kennedy Plaza at Long Beach City Hall, next to LIRR station. Open Wednesdays from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm; May 5 to Nov. 24

OYSTER BAY: Audrey and Shore avenues, at the bandstand. Open Fridays from noon to 6 pm; July 30 through October.

PORT WASHINGTON: Town Dock, Main Street. Open Saturdays from 8 am to noon; June 5 to Oct. 31

ROCKVILLE CENTRE: Sunrise Highway and Long Beach Road. Open Sundays from 7 am to noon; June 6 to Nov. 21

Suffolk County:
AMITYVILLE: The 9/11 Memorial Park. Open Saturdays from 7 am to noon; mid-June through late November.

DEER PARK: Tanger Outlets at the Arches, Commack Road. Open Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm; June 5 to Nov. 30

HUNTINGTON: Elm Street parking lot, Main Street (Route 25A). Open Sundays from 7 am to noon; June 6 to Nov. 21.

ISLIP: Town Hall parking lot on Montauk Highway, Route 27A. Open Saturdays 7 am to noon; June 5 to Nov. 20.

MONTAUK: Village Green. Open Thursdays from 9 am to 1 pm; June 17 to Oct. 7.

NORTHPORT: Cow Harbor Park parking lot. Open Saturdays 8 am to 1 pm; June 19 to Nov. 20

PORT JEFFERSON: 109 Main St., near East Broadway, in the parking lot next to Lainie’s Way / Tommy’s Place. Open Sundays from 8 am to noon from June 6 through October

RIVERHEAD: Downtown next to Atlantis Marine World Aquarium. Open Thursdays 11 am to 4 pm; July 8 to Oct. 8.

SAG HARBOR: Breakwater Yacht Club parking lot, Bay and Burke streets. Open Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm; May 22 to Oct. 30.

SAYVILLE: Depot Rd. at south parking lot of LIRR. Open Saturdays from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm; June to Nov. 20.

WESTHAMPTON BEACH: 85 Mill Rd., next to Historical Society. Open Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm; open until Dec. 11