Port’s Farmers’ Market Opens This Saturday, June 10th

The Port Washington Farmers’ Market will open for the season this Saturday morning, June 10th on the Town Dock. The hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, rain or shine.

Many people say that the Port Washington Farmer’s Market is one of the best things about living in Port Washington. Locals meet to shop, sit in the café with a cup of tea or coffee and a freshly baked treat, and enjoy the beautiful view of Manhasset Bay. The market brings a wide selection of fresh foods grown and made here on Long Island or caught in nearby South Shore waters. Besides the wonderful taste of fresh food, the health benefits of eating locally, seasonally and organically are touted by health professionals and nutritionists alike.

There are other important reasons to support this effort. The Port market participates in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), as do the farmers. This special supplemental nutrition program provides coupons for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and children up to age 5, as well as seniors who are aged 60 and over and are income eligible. For participants, the FMNP becomes a monetary supplement to encourage increased consumption of fresh, local fruits and vegetables and to improve their knowledge of how to purchase, store and prepare fresh fruits and vegetables.

Buying from farmers’ markets also supports our local sustainable farming community. Port’s market is the only 100% organic market in New York State, working with growers who produce food in harmony with nature, and who do not pollute our air or contaminate our fragile groundwater supply. If you are concerned about today’s fossil-fuel dependent giant agri-businesses, the uncertainty about GMO crops and the safety of pesticides, bio-solids and synthetic fertilizers, your local market offers you a place where you can buy your food directly from the grower. You can ask them any questions you want about how they grow your food!

This year there will be produce from the Golden Earthworm Farm and Orient Organics, organic breads, cheeses, eggs, organic fruit pops, pasta, juices, fish, honey, flowers from Emerald Farm, new and beautiful organic soaps from the Hudson Valley, vegan bakers, local baked goods (yes, blueberry muffins!), delicious organic coffee from Café Mam (not local, but one of the best cups around) and more! On occasion, there will be local artisans displaying and selling their work as well as special days where there will be cooking demos.

The market is a project of local non-profit, Grassroots Environmental Education. For more information or to inquire about having a booth at the market, call Jill at Grassroots at 883-0887.