Downtown Farmer's Market Enjoying New Location

The farmer’s market stopped traffic downtown on Wednesday, literally.

Whether they had to travel from Pennsylvania or simply walk around the corner from Mamaroneck Avenue—vendors gathered at Court Street for the Downtown Farmer’s Market.

For the third time in three years, the Bensidoun USA-operated market has changed locations. The market began seven years ago in the parking lot at White Plains City Hall where it remained until 2010, when the market moved to the Court Street parking lot.

To keep up with its growing popularity— the market moved once again this year, but only a little further down the road. The Downtown Farmer's Market now shuts down part of Court Street between Main Street and Martine Avenue to traffic. The move has been a big hit among customers, and vendors alike.

“I notice from last year, it already seems like it's going to be a much better market season,” said Jody Milano, a vendor for Big Girl Baking in her third year at the market. “I think that's because there's just more traffic. It stands to reason; the more people who walk through, the greater chance somebody's going to buy something from you.”

Along with Milano’s booth of baked goods, the market featured vendors selling: cheeses, flowers, crab cakes, pastas, meats, breads, nuts, sauces, jams, as well wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

The most local of the bunch was The Iron Tomato, whose making its market debut this year. The café is located right around the corner at 57 Mamaroneck Ave.

“We're already popular, everybody already knows us," said vendor Mike Branca. "But we figure we'd try to put a little bit more out there."

In stark contrast, Rolling Ridge Farm made the trip up from their 54-acre farm in Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania. Rolling Ridge requires the most stalls at the market for their vast amounts of fruits, vegetables and baked goods. Rolling Ridge Farm Owner Joni Wengerd, he and his farm have been appearing at the market long before it came under new operation and it changed locations.

“We've been coming down for years… since '91, I guess. So, it's a long time,” said Wengerd, a big proponent of farmer's markets. “It cuts out the middleman and it's fresh, hasn't been in stores for weeks. I love marketing my own product, too.”

While the sun was shining down on Court Street on Wednesday, the Downtown Famer’s Market will carry on, rain or shine, every Wednesday until November 23. The hours of operation are between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. However, shoppers may have to get there quick or risk missing out on some of the more popular items.

“It’s not fair!” shouted one customer who showed up too late to Panzarella’s to grab her favorite bread.

“We met some vendors up in Nyack, and the vendor said this was a good market with a lot of traffic, and we thought we'd try it,” said newcomer Marika Hahn of Marika's Sweet & Savory. “It's been wonderful. People were buying before we were set up, so we're delighted.”

The cost of putting together the market every Wednesday is minimal, according to Recreations and Parks Commissioner Al Moroni. The work done to prepare the market is done during the normal hours of operation for his staff, so no overtime is involved. The city also receives payment of about $1,400 a year from the operator, Bensidoun USA.

The European-based company, which also manages a number of markets in Paris and Chicago, has run the market since 2004. Many vendors enjoy coming to the White Plains market due to its international feel and wide variety of products.

“It's important in a number of different ways,” said Moroni. “It affords people, residents, as well as commuters who come to White Plains, an opportunity to get fresh produce, cheeses, breads and fresh fish this year. It adds also to the ambiance of the city and it's good for economic development. People come here visiting and they see we have a very vibrant downtown and it's a home run, it's good for everybody.”

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