We are pleased to welcome guest writer Kristen Kidd from the outdoor lifestyle, gardening and lawn care blog at Lawnstarter for this feature.

Purchase fresh local fruits and vegetables from the top Greenmarkets in New York City. [Photo Credit: @ja_ma/unsplash]
Since 1976, the nonprofit organization Greenmarket has operated farmers markets in New York City to bring fresh, locally produced goods to city dwellers, while supporting nearby producers. More than 200 regional farmers, fishers and bakers sell their wares in these markets. No middlemen allowed, so you can be sure the people selling to you are the same people who grew, caught, baked, or bottled those items.
The following Greenmarkets are based in each of the five boroughs of New York City, with a shared mission. But each offers its own unique flavor.
Manhattan – Union Square Greenmarket

Visit the flagship Union Square Greenmarket in Manhattan for the best produce, meats and dairy. [Photo credit: Phil Roeder/CC BY]
Keep an eye out for cookbook and food writers who come by to do book signings. Celebrated restaurateur and award-winning author Alice Waters is a repeat visitor to the Union Square Greenmarket. Her last signings included her recent memoir, Coming to My Senses: The Making of a Counterculture Cook.
Note: The market is only open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Be sure to bring cash since not all producers accept credit or debit cards.
Brooklyn – Fort Greene Park Greenmarket

Take a stroll through the scenic Fort Greene Park Greenmarket that is shaded by magnificent chestnut trees. [Photo Credit: Ethan Oringel/CC BY]
Keep an eye open for Hudson Valley family operation Kimchee Harvest. They take fresh foods “straight out of the ground” and ferment them using traditional Korean techniques. Of course, they use only New York grown ingredients. Sisters Jenny and Madalyn, brother Arthur, and their mother Ji run the show.
The bronx – Bronx Borough Hall Greenmarket

Purchase ripe and juicy pumpkins and squash from greenmarkets during the fall and winter seasons! [Photo Credit: @joshwilburne/ unsplash ]
Keep an eye open for the longtime family-run Hudson Valley produce stand Migliorelli’s. Angelo and Rocco Migliorelli began peddling vegetables around the Bronx by horse and cart back in the early 1930s. In the prime agricultural soils east of the Hudson River, their children and grandchildren now grow more than 130 different fruits and vegetables. Their specialty? The same strain of broccoli raab Angelo brought from the Lazio region of Italy when he immigrated to New York. The family uses sustainable practices, including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to maintain the farm.
Queens – Jackson Heights Greenmarket

The Jackson Heights Greenmarket in Queens gets busy on Sundays as families stock up on groceries. [Photo Credit: @Jacksonheightsny / instagram]
Keep an eye open for Nature’s Way Farm stand from the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The farm has been operating near Seneca Lake for three generations. It’s famous for its local honey and bee pollen products including lip balm and soap. The family also breeds queen bees and sells colonies to other beekeepers to help propagate the population of pollinators.
Staten island – Staten Island Mall Greenmarket

Treat yourself to the tasty cider donuts from the Orchards of Concklin at the Staten Island Mall Greenmarket. [Photo Credit: LenDog64/CC BY]
Keep an eye open for fresh fall apples from the Orchards of Concklin in Rockland County, New York. An impressive ten generations of family members have tended the orchards where visitors are able to pick their own apples in the fall. You can choose from more than a dozen varieties including Honey Crisp, Winesap, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smiths. Apple cider and cider donuts are two of the tasty treats you’ll find at the stand in the Staten Island Mall Greenmarket.
New York State is home to a wide range of urban and more rural lifestyles and meets a variety of top requirements for good living. It’s no wonder New York ranks No. 3 in the United States on the Quality of Life Index. The Greenmarkets are a perfect way for New Yorkers to come together over a shared passion for fresh local foods. As a visitor, you’ll appreciate this authentic New York experience, and the treasures you find off the beaten tourist paths.
Kristen Kidd is a freelance writer who enjoys eating locally produced foods wherever she travels, including her first baked potato in Idaho and first blackberry pie in Oregon. Kidd is based in Denver, Colorado where the variety of craft beers are endless year-round, but the Rocky Ford Cantaloupes are only available for 6-8 weeks each summer.
Note from New York Habitat:
Greenmarkets offer an incredible variety of produce, baked goods, meats and fresh dairy products. They are also more sustainable for both the planet and your personal health as you get to purchase food directly from the local farmers. For those who love to cook at home, we definitely recommend getting your ingredients from one of the top 5 greenmarkets listed above. What’s more, farm to table becomes twice as easy when you live close to your local greenmarket!

Cook at home after buying fresh ingredients from your local farmers market. [Photo Credit: @beccatapert/unsplash ]

Stay in this 4 bedroom duplex in Manhattan for easy access to the Union Square Greenmarket. (Rental ID: NY-17964)
- A family-friendly 4 bedroom furnished apartment in Gramercy – If you plan to cook for your family with fresh produce from the farmer’s market, this charming duplex apartment can’t be beat. The stylish apartment has a kitchenette area on the first floor and a large open kitchen on the second floor with plenty of countertop space to prepare hearty meals. Just a 7 minute walk away from the Union Square Greenmarket, you will have easy access to the market’s fresh fruits and vegetables.
- A beautiful 1 bedroom furnished apartment in Brooklyn Heights – This 5-story walk-up brownstone is perfect for those who love to cook. The open concept kitchen is fully equipped with state-of-the-art appliances and has a wrap-around stone counter-top. You will love coming home to this Brooklyn apartment after shopping at the Fort Greene Park Greenmarket, only 1.5 miles away.
- A grand 6 bedroom furnished mansion in Staten Island – Live in this luxurious 4-story villa that boasts a private backyard, built-in pool and two exterior balconies. Home cooks will drool at the sight of the magnificent eat-in kitchen that has stainless steel appliances, sub-zero fridge, two ovens and marble countertops. You can purchase local ingredients and munch on a tasty cider donut at the nearby Staten Island Mall Greenmarket before heading back to cook at the mansion.
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