Farmers Market Sales Double This Year

The New Rochelle Farmers Market, which sets up shop on the library green every Friday, is seeing a steady doubling of attendance and sales this year.

"In 2009 we tracked an average of 396 people. This year we are averaging 1032. There is a steady doubling process going on from week-to-week" said Miriam Haas, owner of Community Markets, the organization that runs the market along with 10 other markets in Westchester.

Haas credits this increase in the visibility of the move to the library green, and word of mouth. In addition, Community Markets has worked to add more vendors to the market.

Last year, the market had only three vendors. This year, two more vendors were added, a pickle vendor and one that sells bread.

"We have more choice and people like choice," said Haas, who used to live in New Rochelle and has fond memories of the area.

"I feel really proud to be back in a community that I lived in for nine years," she said.

The New Rochelle farmers market is one of the longest running markets in Westchester. It was started in the 1970s and has been relocated several times.

"We took over the market last year but kept it in the same place, which was on Divison Street," said Haas, "It hurts a market when you move it, but we knew we needed to grow it. We had to convince the city that it would be better to move it to another location. They approved the move to the library green and we recruited more vendors."

The market has also been a blessing to local business owners.

"Although the market is only open on Fridays, it has introduced a new customer base for us," said Sean Salazar, owner of the Gallery Cafe across from the library. "The vendors have done a terrific job, offering superior products and keeping the grounds clean after they leave. The market is a welcome addition."

Another reason the market has been so popular, said Haas, is because it sells fresh, local produce that can't always be found at a grocery store.

"At this location we have a lot of Mexican shoppers that come to buy corn husks for tamales," said Amy Zinaman, market manager for the New Rochelle location. "Our Haitian customers buy [vegetables to make] calaloo. We sell whatever is ripe at the time."

Haas said the prices fit the community they serve, although pricing is left up to the individual farmers.

"The prices in New Rochelle are rock bottom in some cases. The farmers adjust to market prices," she said.

One of those farmers is MacKenzie Boylan, a 16-year-old who works alongside her 21-year old sister selling produce from the family's farm—Wright Farm— in upstate New York. The two sisters drive down to New Rochelle on Fridays to sell produce.

"Just us two and that giant truck," said Boylan "But we're stronger than we look."

Boylan said she has noticed the crowds flocking more and more to the market. 

"We love it here. We see regulars and new people every week," said Boylan, "The first week was slow, but every week there are more and more people."

Lorraine Frazier, who lives nearby said she shops here often, and loves the recipe cards that Community Market provides for free to shoppers. 

"I use the recipe cards to get ideas for dinner," Frazier said. "What I'm going to do tonight is stuff this zucchini, carve it out with a spoon and put in parmesean and breadcrumbs, then bake it in the oven. It's delicious. "