By Janet Kwon
At the ripe age of 30, New York’s Greenmarket is still churning out new locations citywide. With 10 new sites this summer, the total number of markets will reach 45 by mid July.
Of the new locations, two hit close to home – with one on Orchard St. between Broome and Delancey Sts. and another at City Hall Park on the corner of Chambers St. and Broadway.
The City Hall market opened Saturday June 2, starting out small with just two booths representing one orchard and one baker. Greenmarket has since added a vegetable stand and is planning to add more stands, said Gabrielle Langholtz, a Greenmarket spokesperson.
This market is only eight blocks away from a similar open-air market run by former Greenmarket director, Nina Planck. Real Food Markets differ from Greenmarkets in that the former allows farmer co-ops and purveyors, merchants who don’t grow what they sell.
The Orchard St. farmer’s market and the Sixth Ave. Real Food Market may be close in proximity, but they are open on different days of the week. Close or not, Langholtz isn’t too concerned with the possibility of competition.
“I don’t see it as competition. I think that there are thousands of places to buy food in New York City, and we’re always happy for local farmers to have a place to sell their home grown crops…we’re not worried,” Langholtz said.
“This town is big enough for Greenmarkets and Real Food Markets,” she added.
This market is open every Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Orchard St. market will open July 9 and will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Sunday thereafter. This market will be larger than the City Hall location, and it will feature fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, cheese, wine and baked goods.
