Spring Valley Farmers’ Market: New Location, Same Fresh, Local Produce at Great Prices!

Spring Valley Farmers’ Market: New Location, Same Fresh, Local Produce at Great Prices!

Pomona, NY - The Rockland County Department of Health announces that the Spring Valley Farmers’ Market continues to offer locally grown fresh produce, but in a new, more convenient location - the Memorial Park parking lot at 1 Veterans Drive, right behind the Town of Ramapo Cultural Arts Center (off Main Street/Route 45) in Spring Valley.  This new location provides plenty of parking, a beautiful lake and a playground for the kids to have fun. 

The market is open every Wednesday, 8:30 am - 3:00 pm, until November 14, 2012, and accepts Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program checks and WIC fruit and vegetable vouchers.  Food Stamp (EBT) cards are also welcome, and can be used to purchase tokens, which act as “cash” at the market. With the tokens you can buy many different items, such as fruits, vegetables, eggs and honey.

The Spring Valley Farmers Market began in 1998 and currently has two farmers selling a wide variety of products, including clover honey, blue cauliflower and red carrots: 

Alex Kravet of Alex Tomato Farms comes to the market from Carlisle, New York.  When asked what’s being picked for next week he answered “lots of field, plum and beefsteak tomatoes and the first apples of the season!”  A recent customer said ”I come especially for the watermelon, it is so sweet and it is just the right size!”  John Glebocki, a fifth generation farmer in the black dirt region of Orange County, New York, grows a wide variety of vegetables and specialty crops for farmer's markets. A recent customer at his stand said  “This corn is so delicious I can eat it right now without cooking it!”

 “Rockland County is home to five farmers’ markets, all different and unique.  Shop at one of them to find fresh, delicious and nutritious food!  Since the produce is locally grown, it does not have to travel as far as the typical grocery store fruit or vegetable; it’s usually fresher, picked at the peak of flavor, and rich in vitamins and minerals,” said Dr. Joan Facelle, Rockland County Commissioner of Health. 

 The other local farmers’ markets are:

• Haverstraw Farmers’ Market, Sundays from 9 am - 1 pm, through October 28^th (located in front of the Haverstraw Village Hall on Maple Avenue)
• Nyack Farmers’ Market, Thursdays from 8 am - 2 pm, through November 21^st (located at the Municipal Parking Lot on Main Street)
• Piermont Farmers’ Market, Sundays from 9:30 am - 3 pm, through November 18^th (located at the corner of Piermont Avenue and Ash Street)
• Suffern Farmers’ Market, Saturdays from 8:30 am - 1 pm, through November 17^th (located at the corner of Lafayette and Orange Avenues)

Shop at a local farmers’ market, then try our Garlic Roasted Cauliflower recipe:

Ingredients

5 cloves of garlic, slice in half lengthwise

1 medium red onion, slice in half and then ½ inch slices

1 large head of cauliflower trimmed and cut into large florets.  Try the colorful varieties such as purple, green and yellow.

3 ½ tablespoons olive oil, divided

Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper

¼ cup minced fresh parsley or basil

3 tablespoons almonds, toasted

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425° degrees F.

On a sheet pan, toss the cauliflower with the garlic, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, 1 teaspoon of sea salt or kosher salt, and a few twists of fresh ground pepper. Spread the mixture out in a single layer and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, tossing twice, until the cauliflower is tender and the garlic is lightly browned.

Scrape the cauliflower into a large bowl with the garlic and pan juices. Add the remaining 1½ tablespoons olive oil, the parsley or basil, almonds, and lemon juice. Sprinkle with some Parmesan cheese, toss well, and serve hot or warm.

For more information and additional recipes call the Health Department at 364-2500 or visit www.rocklandsteps.org.

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