[Photo from June 2016 by Steven]
An EVG reader looking for when the annual St. Mark’s Church Greenmarket might return this season found the following message on the GrowNYC website...
Not a good sign.
An administrator at St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery confirmed the news. Church officials were informed by GrowNYC last week that the St. Mark's Greenmarket will not be returning this year. It would have been the 36th year for the Greenmarket here. We reached out to GrowNYC, which runs the city’s Greenmarkets, for comment. Will update when we hear back.
The Greenmarket on 10th Street at Second Avenue first started in 1981 in the triangular space in front of the St. Mark's Church-in-the-Bowery.
Updated:
Someone from the Greenmarket staff this this in the comments...
Thank you everyone for expressing your concern regarding the St. Mark's Greenmarket. We are a 501(C)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to simultaneously serve our farmer/producer community and the NYC residents who depend on our markets for fresh food. Closing markets is always a last resort for us and we are actively looking for a new location in the near vicinity that will allow for a more thriving marketplace, to make sure that our farmers stay viable and we can continue serving the community.
In the meantime, we found homes to support the farmers that sold at St. Marks and please visit us on Sundays in Tompkins Sq Park, Sundays (starting 5/21) in Stuy Town, and M/W/F/Sat in Union Square- all a close walk from 10th street and 2nd Ave.
23 comments:
Oh shoot! I'll miss it!!
Wow, that really sucks. I'm surprised. Every time I shop there there are always other customers there too. And what about the Christmas Trees? I need that aroma therapy in December.
Now that is truly awful news. A real loss, a damn shame.
That's sad. It was lovely.
This is sad news, as the few vendors were always friendly and the variety they offered was excellent. It was also nice to have textile recycling and composting offered nearby.
I always wondered why that market - esp. in such a lovely location in front of St. Mark's Church - was not more heavily patronized. Maybe it reflects the changing demographics of our area; I don't know.
So much for the exponential growth in farmers markets. Who did GrowNYC consult in making this decision? Any statement from Rosie Mendez office?
Thanks, EV, for tracking down the info. I'm sad, though. I was hoping what I'd heard was just a rumour.
Looks like Mi Ranchito has been moved to the
Tuesday City Hall Greenmarket.
https://www.instagram.com/mi_ranchito_farm_/
Kernan Farms is already at Union Square. https://twitter.com/KernanFarms
At least they are not totally screwing the farmers, but it is definitely GrowNYC-style to not notify the community before pulling the plug. uggg.
This is a shame, we need more Greenmarkets, not fewer. Now the Crusties might return to take back their old spot. Maybe if they had sold noodles and dumplings it could have survived.
Too few vendors and the prices were high. Years ago a vendor told me he was approached by another vender to raise his prices, "So they all could make money". Not good. Years ago CBS radio did a spot on the green market at Union Square and found the prices higher than at supermarkets for similar items. Years ago a baker at Tompkins Square was selling muffins at $2 or 2 for $3. Now the muffins are $2.75. Open air GREED. People aren't stupid.
This market was doomed to fail. Over the last few years there were only 2 vendors who basically were selling the same vegetables. Three years ago there was a bread vendor as well. Hardly a "market".
Union Square market does tend to overshadow these small markets but is terribly overpriced.
DAMN! I just last week tried to find the opening date online. Last year it wasn't until June, but it used to open in April... Yes, prices were often higher than supermarkets, but I still enjoyed visiting there weekly for fruit and veggies - and to drop my compost if I missed TSP's market on Sunday.
@ Anon 9.08: There are at least other options for dropping compost in the EV, tho considerably farther east: LESEC's garden on 7th St. between B/C on Sundays 8am-5pm; and just past the Joseph Sauer Park on 12th St. near B, all days/hours (there's a bin you drop your bag(s) into within reach through the fence/gates).
StyeTown's starting up its Sunday greenmarket again. As a resident I am hereby inviting all of you. Long as you don't bring a dog, StyeTown is a public access property. Fuck those rent-a-cops, they do not represent us in any way.
Incidentally today is the deadline to register for the Washington Square CSA, pickup at St Mark's Church Tuesday nights.
http://www.washingtonsquarecsa.com/blog/33570
Thank you everyone for expressing your concern regarding the St. Mark's Greenmarket. We are a 501(C)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to simultaneously serve our farmer/producer community and the NYC residents who depend on our markets for fresh food. Closing markets is always a last resort for us and we are actively looking for a new location in the near vicinity that will allow for a more thriving marketplace, to make sure that our farmers stay viable and we can continue serving the community.
In the meantime, we found homes to support the farmers that sold at St. Marks and please visit us on Sundays in Tompkins Sq Park, Sundays (starting 5/21) in Stuy Town, and M/W/F/Sat in Union Square- all a close walk from 10th street and 2nd Ave.
Wish they will open one at the new barren Astor Place Plaza
"StyeTown's starting up its Sunday greenmarket again. As a resident I am hereby inviting all of you. Long as you don't bring a dog, StyeTown is a public access property. Fuck those rent-a-cops, they do not represent us in any way."
Oh really? "StyeTown is a public access property." It's PRIVATE property with public access. As per the email blast from Blackstone who owns our dorm dump:
"Join us for the 2017 launch of the StuyTown Greenmarket on Sunday, May 21st! This is PCVST's 9th year partnering with GrowNYC to present an array of locally-grown produce, meat, artisanal cheese and bread, and more, for residents and their guests to enjoy.*"
*That point is also on the GrowNYC web page as well because of NYC zoning law for the interior of PCVST. BTW as a resident, you are limited to 4 guests, oh entitled one. Read your lease. And you don't speak for anyone but yourself.
Union Square is not all that close a walk and neither is Stuy Town, the advantage here
was that the farmers were here on a Tuesday.
Besides, now you have to deal with the Stuy Town people.
There already are plenty of farmers on a Sunday at Tompkins Sq Park and Union Square.
Wonder how much they had to pay for the space at St Marks.
945. I think they will not mind if some vegetable loving east villagers visit. If they do, let's send masses of crusties to poop and shoot up on their lawn!
I hope the market can return. Our Third Street Music School Preschool enjoyed the visits to the market and it had become a vital part of our curriculum. Taking very young children to Union Square is a very different experience than a one block "journey" across the street. Dare I mention the prices at the 10th Street market were also better than the surrounding markets? We are bitterly disappointed!
Did they give a reason why?
A note on Farmer's Market prices. Rents to the city are high. Ask the farmers.
Also, the St Marks' Greenmarket is closed because people in the neighborhood didn't support it. Workers were so bored at Kernan's that they used to thank my wife for buying there.
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