While you may not think of farmers markets being popular in a city, there are at least a couple hundred in New York City.
That may seem overwhelming if you are looking for one of the best farmers markets, but we have listed the top twelve in the city to make it easier for you.
Whether you are looking for fresh fruits and vegetables, plants from locally grown gardens, or a specialty wine or pastry, you will find it at one of these markets.
First, we will explain what Greenmarkets are, a popular type of New York City farmers market. Then we have a list of the twelve best farmers markets in NYC, which span multiple boroughs.
Contents
What Are Greenmarkets in NYC?
Many of the farmers markets listed in this article are Greenmarkets. But what is a Greenmarket?
Greenmarkets are a brand of open-air farmers markets by GrowNYC. There are more than fifty Greenmarkets throughout New York City, with the flagship market being the Union Square Greenmarket.
Greenmarkets sell a variety of locally grown produce that comes from the Northeast region of the United States. All the sellers must grow whatever they sell themselves, and the food is always local and fresh.
Shoppers can buy items from Greenmarkets ahead of time, get produce delivered to their homes, and use nutrition benefits like SNAP to purchase goods at the market.
Top 12 Farmers Market New York City
We have listed the top twelve farmers markets in New York City. They are spread across multiple boroughs, so you can find one near you no matter where you are.
Many of them are open year-round, and they are open on various days, so you can find one that fits your shopping schedule. They all have unique items for sale by local farmers.
The most popular items are an array of fresh vegetables, but each market also has some unique items like wines, honey, grass-fed beef, seafood, and specialty baked goods.
#1 Union Square Greenmarket, Manhattan
The Union Square Greenmarket is one of the largest and most popular in the city.
It was opened in 1976, and today more than one hundred farmers sell their products at the market, with approximately sixty thousand shoppers visiting the market every day.
If you moved into the Upper West Side, Union Square farmers market is located in Union Square Park, along the north and west sides. The farmers market is open year-round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. On the market’s website, you can find a list of which sellers are going to be there each day.
At the market, you can find a huge variety of products for sale. Here are some of the things you can find at the market:
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Meats and Cheeses
• Bread
• Jams
• Pickles
• Flowers and other plants
• Wine and cider
• Syrups
Some events also happen at the market. Every day the market is open, there are cooking demonstrations where you can learn how to use ingredients you find at the market to cook delicious meals.
During certain seasons, you can also find beer and spirit tastings and book signings. Schools are welcome to sign up for tours of the market to teach children about farming and cooking.
#2 Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket, Brooklyn
The Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket is in the center of many of Brooklyn’s most popular neighborhoods, including Park Slope and Prospect Heights, and near the popular Prospect Park.
The market is on the northwest corner of Prospect Park on Prospect Park West and Flatbush Avenue. The farmers market is the second-largest Greenmarket in the city, and it is open year-round on Saturdays except for some holidays.
Here are some of the great products that you can find at the market:
• Fruit and vegetables
• Bread and flour
• Milk, ice cream, and butter
• Fish and meat
• Hard cider
• Flowers, herbs, and other plants
#3 Fort Greene Park Greenmarket, Brooklyn
The Fort Greene Park Greenmarket is a farmers market in Brooklyn. The market is in the southeast corner of the park on Washington Park, and it is open year-round every Saturday from 8 AM to 3 PM.
Here are some of the most popular products that you can find at the market:
• Grains, flour, and pasta
• Potatoes and onions
• Vegetables and fruit
• Seafood and meat
• Cheese and dairy products
• Baked goods
• Wine
You can also find events at the market like cooking demonstrations, seasonal events, and other activities.
#4 7th Avenue Sunset Park Greenmarket, Brooklyn
The 7th Avenue, Sunset Park Greenmarket, is located at 7th Avenue and 44th Street in the New York borough of Brooklyn.
The farmers market is open year-round on Saturdays from 8 AM to 3 PM, except for some holidays.
Some of the items that you can find for sale at the market include:
• Fruit and vegetables
• Bread
• Pastries
• Meat
• Eggs
#5 Jackson Heights Greenmarket, Queens
The Jackson Heights Greenmarket in Queens is the largest one in the New York City borough.
The market is open year-round every Sunday except holidays. The hours change depending on the season, so plan before you visit.
The farmers market has some events that visitors can participate in, such as educational workshops, cooking demonstrations, music performances, and special sellers.
Here are some of the special products that are sold at the market:
• Fruit and veggies
• Eggs
• Fish and seafood
• Meat
• Mexican produce
• Wine and Hard Cider
• Baked goods and bread
• Milk, cheese, and butter
• Honey
#6 Inwood Greenmarket, Manhattan
Inwood is at the north end of the island of Manhattan. It has beautiful views, and a farmers market with fresh food and produce makes it an even better place to be.
The farmers market is open year-round on Saturdays from 8 AM to 3 PM, except for some holidays. A majority of the farmers who sell their produce at the market are regulars, but there are always new farmers showing up.
Here are some of the produce and other products that you can find at the Inwood Greenmarket.:
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Milk, cheese, and eggs
• Meat and seafood
• Potato vodka
• Bread and pastries
#7 Down to Earth Chelsea Farmers Market, Manhattan
The Down to Earth Chelsea Farmers Market is located on 9th Avenue and 23rd Street in Chelsea, one of the best Manhattan neighborhoods.
It is open from mid-May to mid-December on Saturdays.
Here are some of the local produce that you can find while shopping at the market.
• Alcoholic beverages from distilleries
• Coffee beverages
• Bread
• Cheese and eggs
• Meat
• Fruits and vegetables
#8 Park Slope Down to Earth Farmers Market, Brooklyn
Back to the borough of Brooklyn, we have the Park Slope Down to Earth Farmers Market. The market is at Washington Park on the corner of 4th Street and 5th Avenue.
The market is open year-round on Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM. You can find a large variety of farm-fresh, local produce at the market. Here are some of the most popular products:
• Coffee and baked goods
• Eggs, milk, and cheese
• Meat
• Fruits and vegetables
• Sauces, seasonings, and other pantry items
• Organic produce
• Flowers and plants
• Ready to eat food
#9 Laurelton Farmers Market, Queens
Located in the southeast part of Queens is the CHAE Corp Laurelton Farmers Market.
It was launched in 2020, and it has already built a community of local farmers and shoppers in the neighborhood.
It is open seasonally in the summer on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM at the Laurelton LIRR Station.
The CHAE farmers markets prioritize selling farm-fresh produce and hand-crafted products that are otherwise difficult for communities to access.
The community focuses on selling products from BIPOC farms. At the market, you can find many produce and handmade items.
#10 Bronx Borough Hall Greenmarket, The Bronx
The Bronx Borough Hall Greenmarket is a great farmers market to visit in the Bronx.
The market is open from early June to late November on Tuesdays from 8 AM to 4 PM, which is an uncommon day for a farmers market to be open.
You can find the market at Joyce Kilmer Park just east of Yankee Stadium.
A good amount of the produce sold at this market is organic. Here are some of the most popular and common items that you can find at the market:
• Fruit and vegetables
• Beer
• Honey
• Bread, pastries, and baked goods
• Mexican produce
#11 Corona Greenmarket, Queens
Another Greenmarket, and the final one on the list, is in Corona, Queens. It is a seasonal market open on Fridays between 8 AM and 3 PM from mid-June to mid-November.
The market is also open on the day before Thanksgiving so people in the community can buy items for their Thanksgiving meals. The farmers market is in Corona Plaza by the 103rd Street 7 train stop.
The market specializes in locally grown, fresh Mexican produce like vegetables, herbs, fruits, ciders, and juices.
A majority of the items for sale are from farms in Orange County, New York, which has many farms growing Mexican produce.
#12 Morningside Park Down to Earth Farmer’s Market, Manhattan
Our final farmers market is another one that is open year-round. It is open on Saturdays from 9 AM to 3 PM in the South Harlem neighborhood on the southeast corner of Morningside Park which is in Manhattan.
Fruits and vegetables are the most popular item at the market, but plenty of other items are for sale.
Here are some of the items you can expect to see for sale at the Morningside Park Farmers Market:
• Seafood and Meat
• Baked goods and bread
• Alcoholic beverages
• Vegan, organic, and gluten-free foods
• Cheese and eggs
• Flowers, herbs, and other plants
Conclusion
If you’re planning to move to another borough of the city that is near farmers’ markets, we posted a list of nyc great movers, check them out.
Sources:
- grownyc.org/greenmarket
- grownyc.org/greenmarket/manhattan-union-square-m
- grownyc.org/greenmarket/brooklyn/fort-greene
- grownyc.org/greenmarket/brooklyn-grand-army-plaza
- grownyc.org/7aveSunsetParkGreenmarket
- grownyc.org/greenmarket/queens/jackson-heights
- grownyc.org/greenmarket/manhattan/inwood
- downtoearthmarkets.com/markets?region=Manhattan&market=Chelsea
- downtoearthmarkets.com/markets?region=Brooklyn&market=Park+Slope
- chaecorp.com/
- grownyc.org/greenmarket/bronx/bronx-borough-hall
- downtoearthmarkets.com/markets?region=Manhattan&market=Morningside+Park
- grownyc.org/greenmarket/queens/corona
