Westchester Farmers' Markets' 2009 Outdoor Season Begins!!

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

So... where did you go and what did you get today? Ossining, Pleasantville, Larchmont, and Tarrytown opened today for the season!

I went to Pleasantville... New vendors include Dutch Desserts and Rainbeau Ridge Goat Cheese (unbelievable!-- I got the spreadable cran walnut). Cowberry Crossing was there to feed my fix of eggs and greens. Bobolink, Pika, Mead Orchards (with the first strawberries of the season!), Pura-Vida fish, and more were all there! The large produce (Bialas) stand had beautiful spring veggies and a wonderful assortment of potted herbs. I picked up rosemary. I was tempted by the strawberry planters too.

I plan to alternate between Pleasantville and Ossining. What was new and interesting there? I'm so excited... I can't wait to check out Croton's too when it opens! It'll be nice to have a mid-week location for things I forget.

[surman]

News from Scarsdale Farmers Market:

+ The market *will* be held Saturday, Sept. 19, during the
Rosh Hashana holiday.

+ It will continue in its current *outdoor* location, behind
Scarsdale Village Hall -- 1001 Post Rd. (Route 22)
between Popham Rd. and Crane Rd. -- through
October and much of November, weather permitting.

+ It will move to an *indoor* location just 6/10 mile east, at
the new Christie Place garage -- Christie Pl. between
East Parkway and Chase Rd. -- "around Thanksgiving,"
according to the market manager.

Google map from current location (A) to winter location (B):
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&s...

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

Well, continuing my farmers' market odyssey around the region, I made it to the Muscoot Farm Farmers' Market a few Sundays ago. This market is well worth an outing for anyone, but ESPECIALLY if you have kids or just if you want to make more of a day out of going to the market. Parking is limited and it was pretty crowded, but it was lively and fun. Kids and animal lovers will be entertained indefinitely by all the farm animals. There are picnic tables, too, if you want to picnic.

As for the vendors, I thought there was a large variety and some interesting ones I haven't seen at other markets in the area. Hudson milk was there with milk and cheese-- my sister got the mozzarella and raved about it. John Boy's was there, which I've read about, with beef and other meat, and eggs-- laid, the kind lady informed me, the previous day! The most interesting vendor was Kitchawan Farm, from Ossining, which is a family farm that grows "heritage" veggies and herbs.. She had a beautiful selection of unusual produce, including several different types of garlic.

Several produce stands, the same lavender stand and hot sauce stand as Scarsdale, a peanut butter stand, Pika's Quiche, Meredith's Bread, Dutch Desserts (also at Pleasantville), Pickle Licious, and a few other vendors round out the market.

It's great to have a nice Sunday market for those Saturdays when you can't get to one!

http://www.muscootfarm.org/farmersmar...

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

New Vendor at Ossining starting this week! Feather Ridge Farm from Elizaville NY.

From the newsletter:
"NEW THIS WEEK: Feather Ridge Farm Fresh chicken, eggs, milk and half and half."

MILK! Very intrigued!!

[GIOny]

Does anyone know if there are plans to have the indoor Farmers Market in Briarcliff again this year?

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

I really hope they do... and an expanded version would be even better.

[tbetz]

I'm told that Irvington and Hastings are planning to hold indoor markets as well, no specifics yet.

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

I went to Scarsdale on Saturday in hopes of securing pork from Thornwood. I was really impressed-- it's a really nice market! Quiet, spread out, good location away from the bustle of the village, lots of parking, great variety of vendors....... they have two or three produce/fruit vendors, Thornwood (which has their own (delicious) pork and a neighboring farm's beef), a lavender farm (where they have beautiful sachets and delicious lavender-hinted baked goods), a cheese vendor with LOADS of cheeses to try along with bread, bialies, bagels, and lamb mushroom spring rolls (YUM!), two wineries, an Asian stir fry sauce vendor, and more! Wonderful!!

[MikiLovesSugar]

I just went to the Pleasantville market on Saturday and I enjoyed a bunch of stuff!

Hot and Spicy pickles from Pickle Licious
Jean Louis Cheese from Bobolink
Sesame Semolina bread from Bread Alone Bakery
A bunch of uniquely flavored nuts from Tierra Farm

I went at about 1230 and some vendors were already closing so get there early!
Check out my blog for more pictures!!

http://smilessugarandsunshine.blogspo...

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

Anyone been to Dobbs yet?

[Nancy C]

Black raspberries in Ossining today - YUM!

[spa]

I heard Ossining was closed today? If so, that would explain why several vendors (Dutch Desserts, Rainbeau Ridge) at Pleasantville were sold out by 11. Mead's strawberries were perfect this week (much sweeter than last week) and Cowberry Crossing's greens were just wonderful.

[DGresh]

ossining has their village fair today. Last year I made the mistake of parking anyway (way up the hill next to the HS) and then discovering that the farmers market was nowhere to be found.

[jessheslin]

I am equidistant from the Pleasantville market and the Ossining market... but have only been to the Pleasantville mkt. Can you tell me if there is a difference???

[DGresh]

I've only been to Ossining :) I will say that I think there may be *slightly* fewer participants there than the indoor Pleasantville market this past winter, but it is roughly similar. Bobolink dairy does *not* seem to go to Ossining, but the fish guy does.

[Nancy C]

http://www.communitymarkets.biz/marke...

Look up Ossining and you can see who the vendors are. Have had someone selling cheese, not listed there, but good products.

[Marge]

The fish guy (Pura Vida) has broken my heart two weeks in a row now! Happily, he is scheduled to return next week.

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

He wasn't at Ossining OR Pleasantville today! Wonder what happened.

[Marge]

He stood me up again! The sign again said he is scheduled to return next week--dare I continue to set myself up for disappointment by looking forward to his scallops? To console myself I bought some romanesco cauliflower...

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

yay he was back today!!!

[Marge]

Yay, indeed! He said that for the past few weeks the fishermen had such a hugh haul of squid that the dock ran outof ice!! My beautiful, succulent scallops are awaiting their ceviche bath...to be accompanied by some good looking corn. BTW, the yogurt guy referenced above was advertised in the journal news as being at the Croton farm market--I went back last Wed, but (s)he wasn't there. A wonderful veggie guy (sprouts something...) was at Croton though, they had beautiful salad greens and pea shoots.

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

Ossining has Kiernan grass fed beef (excellent) and Thornwood Farms pork (yum). Thornwood also sells goat cheese, though not in as many incarnations as Rainbeau Ridge. Neither Kiernan nor Thornwood can be found at Pville.

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

Thornwood Farms, which sold pork, chicken, eggs, and goat cheese, will no longer be participating in the Ossining Farmers' Market. I noticed their absence and emailed the person in charge of the market and she said they opted not to return because they can't compete with Dines' prices. I'm really disappointed as their pork was excellent, and I haven't bought from Dines since that whole fiasco a year or two back with questions over where their meat comes from. It's really a shame that the market lost a great vendor to one whose ethics had been questioned.

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

I emailed Thornwood and they will be at Scarsdale and Larchmont on Saturdays.

[biga290]

rye has the kiernan grass fed beef as well. the 1/3 lb burgers are unbelievable.

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

Cowberry Crossing was sold out of eggs by 8:35. They will have extremely limited eggs except for people who signed up for the CSA... which I now wish I did. :(

Everything else was great though!! I loved the little seed gardens sugar snap peas.

Oh and I tried the Dutch Desserts chocolate tart.... wow!!

[MRS]

Dr.Pickle at the Rye Farmer's Market has some of the best pickles, marinated mushrooms and olives ever!! They are so good that I brought them to a friend who is obsessed with super sour pickles and she had pronounced them the best "ever"! And believe me, she has tried a lot of pickles. I am crazed over the mini mushrooms....so good!

[laylag]

We love Dr. Pickle too. Found them at the indoor market in Mamaroneck this winter. Want to note they also have a stand at the Larchmont market. In addition to the excellent pickles, also can rec their sauerkraut and my husband loves the gardiniere (sp?).

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

Did anyone check out Croton's grand opening yesterday? Curious about Likitsakos's yogurt.

http://www.likitsakos.com/11601/11622...

[Marge]

I went to Croton yesterday--there was no yogurt (wish there was, that looks really interesting!). I did get some beautiful arugula, young beets, organic fresh roasted nuts, and a delicious empanada-like pastry filled with spinach, feta, roasted garlic and tomato. I sampled Dutch Desserts mixed berry tart (sweet and buttery--the chocolate looked really good), nice company dessert. I did not check to see how their prices compare with the retail store, but Millbrook wines were there. The market is smaller than Ossining, and parking is tough, but it is a great addition to the area for a midweek fix!

[spa]

Thanks for the report. This is great to know about.

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

Thanks for the report, Marge! I wondered about parking. Seems like it's really limited. Where did the empanada come from?

[Marge]

I parked on the street (Riverside)--the lot at the market is tiny, and there was a line of cars backed up to enter, being directed by a parking enforcement guy. I got the empanada/savory pastry at Meredith's--they had several varieties, it is new for them and was very popular.

[surman]

Here's what I have found on Westchester farmers' markets for 2009 -- by day of week...

WEDNESDAY

Croton-on-Hudson
Municipal Lot, Municipal Pl. @ Riverside Ave. (across from 1 Municipal Pl.)
June 10 to November 18, 2009, 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm
http://www.communitymarkets.biz/market.php?market=30

Pocantico Hills
Stone Barns Center, 630 Bedford Road
Through November, 2 pm to 4 pm (members only, 1-2 pm)
http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/

White Plains
City Hall, 255 Main Street
May 6-November 25, 2009, 8 am to 4 pm
http://www.cityofwhiteplains.com/dataimages/Rec&Parks_Spring_2008.pdf
(See p.27.)

THURSDAY

Yonkers
St. John's Church, Getty Square, 1 Hudson Street at South Broadway
July through mid-November, Thursday 9-4
[phone]

FRIDAY

Dobbs Ferry
Not yet open; no information available.

New Rochelle
Municipal Lot (38 Division St.) between Leroy Pl. and Prospect St.
June 19 to November 20, 2009, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm
http://www.communitymarkets.biz/market.php?market=31

Pocantico Hills
Stone Barns Center, 630 Bedford Road
Through November, 2 pm to 4 pm (members only 1-2 pm)
http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/

SATURDAY

Bronxville
Stone Place & Paxton Avenue
May 30 to November 21, 2009, 8:30 am to 1 pm
http://www.bronxvillechamber.com/farmers-market.htm

Hartsdale
Hartsdale Train Station
June 6 to November 21, 2009, 9 am to 2 pm
http://www.greenburghny.com/Cit-e-Access/webpage.cfm?TID=10&TPID=1562

Hastings
Library parking lot, 7 Maple Ave. Hastings-on-Hudson
June-November 2009, 8:30 am to 2 pm
www.hastingsfarmersmarket.org

Katonah - Lewisboro
John Jay High School, 60 N. Salem Rd (Rt. 121), Cross River
May 30 to December 19, 2009, 8:30 am to 2:00 pm
http://www.communitymarkets.biz/market.php?market=5

Larchmont
Metro-North Parking Deck #3 (Chatsworth Ave. near 1 Railroad Way)
May 30 to December 19, 2009, 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
http://www.communitymarkets.biz/market.php?market=24

Ossining
Corner of Main and Spring St. (near Ossining Post Office, 100 Main Street)
May 30 to December 19, 2009, 8:30 am to 2:00 pm
http://www.communitymarkets.biz/market.php?market=1

Peekskill
Bank Street
June 13 to November 21, 8 am to 2
http://www.peekskillbid.com/Farm/Farm_Home.html

Pleasantville
Memorial Plaza off Manville Rd. (across From 42 Memorial Plaza)
May 30 to December 19, 2009, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm
http://www.communitymarkets.biz/market.php?market=2

Scarsdale
Lower parking lot, behind Village Hall, 1001 Post Road @ Popham Road
May 30 - October 31, 2009, 10 am to 2 pm

Tarrytown
Patriot's Park on Route 9, (next to Tarrytown Public Library, 121 N. Broadway)
May 30 to November 21, 2009, 8:30 am to 2:00 pm
http://www.communitymarkets.biz/market.php?market=9

SUNDAY

Katonah
Muscoot Farm, 51 Route 100
May 3 to October 25, 10 am to 3 pm
http://www.muscootfarm.org/farmersmarket.htm

Pelham
Harmon Avenue @ 8 Fifth Avenue
May 31 to November 22, 2009, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
http://www.communitymarkets.biz/market.php?market=27

Pocantico Hills
Stone Barns Center, 630 Bedford Road
Through November, 1 pm to 4 pm
http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/

Rye
Parking Lot 2 on Theodore Freund Ave. (behind 73 Purchase St.)
May 31 to November 22, 2009, 8:30 am to 2:00 pm
http://www.communitymarkets.biz/marke...

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

Great list!!!

[Nancy C]

Many, many thanks!!!!

[DGresh]

a labor of love! thank you, especially for putting it by day of the week. I was bummed to find out that Croton (really close to me) is the same day as my CSA so not a good "supplement" for it.

[tbetz]

You can add a new one in Irvington:

Main Street Elementary School parking lot
101 Main St
Wednesdays, 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM!

http://www.irvingtonny.gov/index.aspx?NID=175

Google maps:

http://tinyurl.com/irvingtonmarket

Parking provided in the rear parking lot of the Irvington Presbyterian Church‎ at 21 Broadway -- the lot is just across the Croton Acqueduct from the schoolyard.

[surman]

Note Scarsdale has changed hours.... now 9 to 1.

[SeanPK]

Tuckahoe has a market on Sundays after 8am at Depot Square

[surman]

The new farmer's market in Scarsdale (Saturdays, behind Town Hall, Post Road @ Popham Road) opened this past weekend -- a real treat for this area where the Hartsdale farmer's market (Saturdays, at the Metro-North station, Pipeline Road @ East Hartsdale Ave.) has had little more to offer than the neighborhood fruit stand.

Scarsdale had (as I recall) four bakeries -- two mostly bread and two desert-focused -- a couple of very good looking fruit and vegetable vendors -- one with an awesome selection of fungi -- a local rancher (beef and pork), a venison purveyor, a stand with vegan (or maybe just vegetarian) prepared food, plus the requisite Hudson Valley vintner and a maker of honey, jams and preserves. Worth going back, definitely.

[mspring]

Any cheese at the Scarsdale market that you can recall?

[surman]

Yes! Bought a couple of pieces of Hudson Valley cheese at a booth which also sold bread -- one was an excellent hard cow's milk from a farmer who names his cheeses whimsically, so you have to try them to have any idea what they are, the other a tangy young goat's from a convent. Both excellent.

[BAFU]

Sounds like the kids and I can just walk to Scarsdale's market this weekend! Thanks for the update! Now I just hope they don't have "Scarsdale" prices as well....

[surman]

It's definitely not a place to find great bargains, but prices seem to be generally in line with other farmers' markets and better-quality purveyors. Artisanal cheeses, for example, are priced similarly to comparable products at Morton-Williams (nee Turcos) in Hartsdale. If you want a low price on very good mass-produced meat, go to Stew Leonard's; if you want locally sourced and slaughtered, grass fed meat, (just an example) you'll have to pay "Scarsdale" prices, I'm afraid.

[spa]

I was at Pleasantville, too, and was happy to see old farmer friends from previous years and the winter market and meet a few new ones as well. That aged goat cheese from Rainbeau Ridge is going to be my new addiction, I can tell. That plus bread from Daily Bread and Mead's strawberries and greens from Cowberry Crossing--I'm a happy camper today!

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

I'm really excited about Rainbeau Ridge. At first I was a little shocked by the price but then I realized it's 8 oz instead of the 4 oz I usually got from Thornwood Farms at the indoor-- so I realized it was actually pretty comparable.

The eggs from Cowberry Crossing were huge today!

[surman]

Can you provide locations and days for these so we can plug 'em into the GPS and join you there?

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

All the info can be found at http://www.communitymarkets.biz

Sounds like Scarsdale's was a success!

[surman]

Good list, as far as it goes, but all of those are run by the same company, hence omitting their competitors in other locations.

[Nancy C]

Do you perhaps have additions to that "usual suspects" list?

[i_eat_a_lot_of_ice_cream]

Glad you took the time to compile the list of all of them below.