With New Vendors On Board, Pleasantville Farmers' Market Prepares for Memorial Day Weekend Launch

Many of the food products to be sold at the Pleasantville Farmers' Market, and other farmers' markets in Westchester and Rockland Counties this coming season, were on display at the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Community Markets— the network's organizer—on Monday.

The festivities took place at the newly-opened Community Markets headquarters in Ossining.

"Eating fresh, healthy food is everyone's right," Jon Zeltsman, the organization's president, told attendees at the anniversary celebration.

On May 28, the Pleasantville Farmers' Market will begin its 15th year of operation—the outdoors market will be open, rain or shine, in the Memorial Plaza parking lot, on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Six vendors are appearing for the first time at the Pleasantville market: Amazing Real Live Food Company, Block Factory Tomales, Raaka Chocolates, Go Go Pops, Ready, Set, Sharp and Thornwood Farm.

A preliminary list of vendors to offer their wares at the Pleasantville Farmers' Market during 2011 includes:

• Amazing Real Live Food Co., Pine Plains, NY. Cheese. www.amazingreallive.com NEW
• Bialas Farms, New Hampton, NY. Fruit, herbs, plants, vegetables. www.bialasfarms.com
• Block Factory Tomales, Germantown, NY. Tomales. NEW
• Bobolink Dairy, Vernon, NJ. Artisinal bread, artisinal cheese. www.cowsoutside.com
• Bombay Emerald Chutney Co. Yorktown Hts., NY. Chutney.
• Bread Alone, Boiceville, NY. Artisinal bread, pastry. www.breadalone.com
• Buddhapesto, Bearsville, NY. Specialty foods. www.buddhapesto.com
• Calcutta Kitchens, Norwalk, CT. Chutney. http://calcuttakitchens.com
• Cowberry Crossing, Hudson, NY. Meat, vegetables.
• Dutch Desserts, Kinderhook, NY. Baked goods. pies. www.dutchdesserts.com
• Feather Ridge Farm, Elizaville, NY. Eggs, poultry. www.featherridgeeggs.com
• Go Go Pops, Cold Spring. Ice cream, frozen yogurt. www.go-pops.com NEW
• Guyank Brand, Woodhaven, NY. Specialty foods. www.guyankbrand.com
• J & A Bialas Farm, Goshen, NY. Vegetables. http://jabialasfarm.com/
• Kiernan Farm, Gardiner, NY. Beef, honey, maple products, sausage. kiernanfarm.com
• Little Seed Gardens, Chatham, NY. Organic produce. 
• Mead Orchards, Tivoli, NY. Berries, wreaths. www.meadorchards.com
• Meredith's Bread, Kingston, NY. Bread, jam, pastry, pies, quiche. www.meredithsbread.com
• Newgate Farms, East Grenby, CT. Baked goods, fruit, plants, vegetables. 
• Pickle Licious, Teaneck, NJ. Pickles. www.picklelicious.com
• Pika's Farm Table, Big Indian, NY. Quiche, salsa, soup. www.pikasquiche.com
• Pura-Vida Fisheries, Hampton Bays, NY. Fish, shellfish.
• Raaka Chocolate, New York, NY. Chocolate bars. www.RaakaChocolate.com NEW
• Rainbeau Ridge, Bedford Hills, NY. Cheese. www.RainbeauRidge.com
• Ready, Set, Sharp, Pelham, NY. Knife sharping services. NEW
• Thornwood Farm, Sidney Center, NY. Chickens, turkeys, pork, eggs NEW
• Tierra Farm, Valatie, NY. Specialty foods. www.tierrafarm.com
• Trotta Foods, Thornwood, NY. Prepared foods, specialty foods. 
• Wiltbank Farm, Saugerties, NY. Herbs, mushrooms.

Community Markets was founded by Miriam Hass in Ossining in 1991 to bring fresh produce to local neighborhoods after she became disillusioned by the wilted greens at a local grocery.  

Only farmers, growers or producers and their family members or employees are permitted to sell at the . Middlemen, brokers or resellers are excluded. Crafts, jewelry and clothing vendors are not accepted for participation.

Community Markets also conducts the at the Briarcliff Congregational Church Parish House in Briarcliff Manor. The market hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and it will be open every Saturday until May 21, except this Saturday, April 9.

Other farmers' markets managed by Community Markets serve the Westchester County communities of Croton-on-Hudson, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, Ossining, Pelham, Rye, and Tarrytown, the Rockland County communities of Piermont and Spring Valley; as well as all New York City boroughs, except Staten Island.

Potential vendors that meet the eligibility requirements can contact Community Markets at 914-923-4837 or visit www.communitymarkets.biz for more information.