A Taste of Long Island to Produce Beer, Expand Farmers Market

Big plans are in the works for the month of June for Farmingdale-based A Taste of Long Island as well as the Village of Farmingdale.

The company, owned by father-daughter team Jim Thompson and Courtney Citko,  is obtaining a farm brewery license and aims to produce craft beer made from New York-based hop and malt suppliers. The beer will be for sale on or around June 1. 

In addition, Eat Local Long Island, a farmers’ market operated by Thompson and Citko, is expanding, and at a new location: Farmingdale Village on the Green, next to the Farmingdale Fire House and Village Hall on Sundays beginning June 1. The market will be open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. through Thanksgiving, rain or shine.

A Taste of Long Long Island plans to sell the beer daily and sell it as well at the farmers market, along with other Long Island-grown products, including New York wines. 

“The market will be bigger and better with about 20 vendors,” Thompson said, in a news release.

The news helps make Farmingdale become a destination, something that seems to please Mayor Ralph Ekstrand.

“At the farmers’ market, the farmers and vendors are selling direct to customers, with no middlemen,” he said. “Visitors and customers can meet the vendors, ask questions about food production practices, and sample in most cases.” 

“There are benches to sit and relax and of course enjoy a casual stroll through the Village Green,” he added.

“Moving the market to Sundays on the Village Green makes this more of a community, social happening,” Thompson noted. “We hope everyone comes to check out all the great locally grown and made produce, food and more.”

The market will feature nearby food artisans and vendors, with locally grown and produced, seasonal farm fresh produce, agriculture products and more will be at the market on Sundays. Expected vendors include Schneider’s Farm from Melville, Osprey Dominion and other East End wineries, as well as local craft beers, artisan breads, soups, barbecue sauce and rubs, gourmet pickles, fruit spreads, fresh eggs, honey, baked goods, sauces and stuffed peppers. New vendors are being added each week.

The company’s new craft beer will fit in within the array of products at the market, Thompson noted, pointing out that is in “conjunction with NY State’s desire to cross promote craft brewing and agriculture and markets departments, derived from new legislation from Governor Cuomo’s office last July.”

News of the expanded farmers market follows the village’s Winter Wonderland, “A Taste of Farmingdale” – an event at Village Hall in late February. The event drew hundreds who came to meet vendors, sample tastings and win raffle prizes.