Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony For East End Food Market Coming Soon

RIVERHEAD, NY — A popular indoor market will celebrate its new home in Riverhead with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week.

The East End Food Institute will be joined by the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce and members of the Riverhead town board on Friday at 3 p.m. to mark the opening of the East End Food Market at 139 Main Road in Riverhead — the longtime home of the now-shuttered Homeside Florist and Greenhouses.

According to organizers, the central location is a boon for day trippers and area residents on both the North and South Forks "looking to experience and enjoy the bounty of the East End."

The market, formerly held on Main Street in downtown Riverhead at the now-demolished Swezey's building, will be held on Saturdays, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., through April 30.

“The pandemic created a surge in popularity and interest in local food, so we knew we had to bring back the indoor market, and we are thrilled about this location,” Kate Fullam, executive director of East End Food Institute, said. “The building was a perfect canvas for local artist Kara Hoblin, and her paintings on the exterior really showcase the bounty inside.”

For a list of vendors, click here.

Every Saturday, the market will host a variety of offerings and entertainment provided by more than 40 local farms and food businesses, wine tastings from a rotating list of wineries sponsored by Long Island Wine Country, educational opportunities from area nonprofits, craft and local art vendors, and live music, the East End Food Institute said.

Customers can pre-order local goods here and pick up at the market every weekend, or shop in person.

“The variety of businesses and entrepreneurs choosing to do business in Riverhead is beyond exciting. Supporting our local growers and makers is quite simply the best way to keep this community strong and thriving and East End Food Market makes it very enjoyable to do just that,” added Liz O’Shaughnessy, executive director of the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar said the market represents a wonderful way for the community to support local businesses while also enjoying music and fun activities.

"The entire community is excited to see this venture come to fruition. I look forward to patronizing our new farmers market," she said.

The East End Food Market will also accept the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and Double Up Food Bucks, a program new for Suffolk County that is designed to help SNAP-enrolled customers purchase fresh, locally grown food, organizers said.