Farmer’s Market Is Local At Its Best
On Saturday mornings, Jericho Turnpike is free of its chaotic weekday traffic and becomes temporarily an idyllic thoroughfare. However, there is one corner of Jericho that still has its upbeat cadence, the municipal parking lot across from Village Hall in New Hyde Park. The lot is adorned with white tents, and underneath, rain or shine, are treats for everyone in town.
It is a scene reminiscent of a medieval marketplace, but it is 2014 and we are standing in the middle of the New Hyde Park Farmers’ Market.
A walk through this spring to fall market may be short, but it is jam-packed with locally grown seasonal produce from organic strawberries and apples to artisanal specialties like bread and chocolates. The benefits of supporting local farmers and producers does not just financially aid your neighbors, but extends to helping the environment as well.
With the United Nations Climate Summit that took place on Sept. 23, and the preceding Climate March that over 300,000 demonstrators participated in the day before, the future of the environment is no longer a backburner issue. The sustainability farmers’ markets promote is a small step the community can contribute to lessening the environmental burden. Local produce means it is a short ride between farms to table, slashing harmful carbon dioxide emissions from longer and cross-country transportation routes.
The G&G’s Long Island Farmers Market, which coordinates the New Hyde Park version, also hosts in other towns across the island. And, when winter hits, fresh, locally grown produce can still be found at the indoor location in Huntington.
The idea of a farmer’s market exemplifies what little parts our community can play in a bigger picture. Visit the white tents from now until the end of the season on Nov. 22 and discover the wonders of shopping and eating local.
