When the weekend comes and the only thing standing between you and your leisure time is a grocery list, convenience and proximity often trump good nutrition and common sense. But starting on June 7, West Chelsea residents lacking the time, inclination or physical mobility to trek to the Union Square Greenmarket will have a hyperlocal reason to eat right. At the Down to Earth Farmers Market, you’ll have a better chance of finding preserves than preservatives.
Among those who’ve signed on for the season: A father and son team based in Carlisle, NY will be brining a wide range of fruits and vegetables from Alex’s Tomato Farm. American Pride Seafood offers fresh seafood caught off the shore of Long Island. Locust Grove Fruit Farm, a seven-generation family orchard on the bank of the Hudson River, has 20+ varieties of apples, pears, peaches, and grapes. A line of gluten-free products is included in the breads and baked goods from Meredith’s Breads. Dickson’s Farmstand Meats will have a selection of the high-quality beef, lamb, pork, and poultry you can always find at their Chelsea Market location. The Church of the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen (which serves over 1,000 lunches a day, Mon.-Fri.) will receive donated produce from the vendors at the close of each market day.
June 7 through Nov. 22. Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the northeast corner of Ninth Ave. & 23rd St. E.B.T. (Electronic Benefit Transfer) will be available for shoppers with SNAP Benefits. For more info (including the most updated list of vendors), visit DowntoEarthMarkets.com.
