The Inwood Farmers' Market

In my last entry I mentioned the Inwood Farmers' Market and how hubbie and I thought it was staged just for us to entice into moving to Inwood! Well, nearly three years later the market remains one of our favorite things about the neighborhood. Now everyone knows that New York has several great greenmarkets, the mother of them all being in Union Square, but our little market on Isham Street is a true gem! There are a few things we lack in Inwood, which I will elaborate on in a future post, but somehow we are blessed to have a weekly supply of locally grown products delivered to us each Saturday!

That first fall when we moved to Inwood we were saddened to learn that after Thanksgiving, the market shut down for the winter. When the weather turned warmer the next April, we kept looking for the market to return, only to discover that we wouldn’t see the vendors until Memorial Day! Finally, they came back and we enjoyed their wares all summer, but again they went into hibernation in November. This past winter (2006-2007), however, we were thrilled to learn that several of the vendors would continue to serve us ALL WINTER, so the Inwood Farmers' Market is now year-round! There are fewer stands in wintertime, but right now the Market is at the height of its bounty. I believe there are about 15 different stands and here are a few tidbits about the kinds of things you’ll find:

PRODUCE/VEGGIES: I count at least 4 stands dedicated to produce & vegetables. My favorite anchors the Market at its Eastern end where Park Terrace West becomes Cooper Street. This stand is where I buy my salad greens, fresh basil, and recently they have some wonderfully sweet cherry tomatoes. They also have eggs, potatoes, herbs and plants for sale. Another great produce stand anchors the Western end and is the first one on your left if you are coming from Seaman Avenue. Last week we picked up spinach, onions and garlic from them but they also have many other vegetables—carrots, radishes, cilantro, etc. In the middle of the market are 2 other smaller produce stands. I patronize these less frequently but they look lovely as well, overflowing as they are with green beans, peppers, zucchini and such.

BREAD: There are 2 stands dedicated to baked goods. The one closer to the Western end has a wider variety of products including foccacia and quiche and the like, but we tend to buy from “Bread Alone” closer to the Eastern end. My husband loves the San Francisco Sour Dough loaves, and we always stock up on baked treats for breakfast. Our favorites are the blueberry muffins, the “morning glory” muffins (a delicious carrot-raisin concoction), the apple tarts and the chocolate-chip-hazelnut scones…yum!

FISH/FOWL/DAIRY: Our farmers’ market also has an egg man, a fish man, and turkey man. The egg man is pretty basic—he mostly carries eggs and whole cow’s milk. The fish stand has a variety of aquatic creatures recently caught in the Long Island Sound. We have enjoyed their fluke, their scallops and recently some top-notch tuna steaks. Often the fish folks will give you helpful hints on preparation as well. And we love the DiPaolo (sp?) Turkey farm! We have used their ground turkey regularly for burgers, meatloaf and meatballs, and we especially like the spicy Italian turkey sausage. Usually, grilled samples of this last item are available for tasting on market day. We sometimes eat it with eggs for breakfast (and today I’ll be putting some in my meat sauce for lasagna!)

ORCHARDS: There are 2 orchards represented at the market. On the Eastern end is “Breezy Hill Orchard.” These guys are all about the pies! I brought their strawberry-rhubarb pie to my 4th of July festivities and it was scrumptious! I also get the very tasty “Empire” apples from this stand and last week we picked up some juicy peaches from them as well. The Samascott Orchard stand at the Western end is also terrific and if you judge by the lines then it might be the most popular stand at the market. They were the first to have tomatoes this season and they go quickly so get there early! We get our berries there (strawberry season seems to be over but the blueberries are ripe and abundant) and lately hubbie can’t keep his hands off of their sugar snap peas! But perhaps our favorite item from this stand is the pear cider. The label boasts one ingredient: ”Carefully selected tree ripened pears”. I call this stuff the nectar of the gods! They have lots of other great items at this stand and both Samascott and Breezy Hill feature the famous “cider doughnuts” that seem to be a must-have for the neighborhood kids.

ALL THE REST: There are 4 other excellent vendors at the market. The stand toward the Western end with the green awning is sort of a catchall. They have greens and sprouts and cheeses and yogurt and breads and granola and meats! You’ll know this one by the lady who works there with her young child strapped to her back. There used to be a stand devoted solely to meats & cheeses (I think they were from Eklund farm and they sold jerky and yummy “snack sticks”) but I have not seen them lately and since their disappearance this catchall stand is the main place for meats. I got my ground beef there last week and they usually have bacon and other cow & pig products. Then there is the flower stand where you can purchase a wide variety of potted plants. I have always had a black thumb and killed some marigolds I bought there in about a week; but my most recent plant purchase from this stand has been absolutely thriving! I forget its name but it is a lovely little thing with yellow & green leaves that slowly turn to purple. They also have beautiful cut flowers-- I was compulsive about the peonies when they were in season but I am equally happy with the other bouquets I’ve picked up there too. The market also has an artisanal cheese stand, which I can’t personally comment on. I think most of the varieties are made from sheep’s milk and one day I will try some, but for now I am off the soft cheeses due to the pregnancy. And finally, there is my favorite character at the market—the honey man. He comes from Tremblay Apiaries and I usually get their “bamboo” honey. The honey man is very chatty and he will tell you anything you want to know about bees and the honey-making processes. One time, I went to see him and complained that I had to use my sugar in my tea since I ran out of honey and he looked horrified and said “Oh no! That stuff will kill ya!” Sadly, I have discovered that the honey man smokes cigarettes. Sugar will kill me but tar and nicotine are ok? Hmmm…something’s out of whack there, but I enjoy him nonetheless.

I think that covers all of our vendors! A quick google search didn’t turn up any detailed pages about the Inwood market so I hope this info encourages you to check it out. Do be warned that it can be pricey, but I think it’s worth it for fresh, local and organic foods, and I am happy to spend my dough there to make sure they keep coming back. I’ll see you at the market every Saturday!