Brooklyn Locavore: Greenmarket Farmers Markets

When you buy food at Greenmarket Farmers Markets, the farmers gets 100% of the profit.On average, the farmers travel 90 miles from their farms to NYC Greenmarkets.
Greenmarket was founded in 1976 with a two-fold mission: to promote regional agriculture by providing small family farms the opportunity to sell their locally grown, caught, foraged and baked products directly to consumers, and to ensure that ALL New Yorkers have access to the freshest, most nutritious locally grown food the region has to offer.
What began over three decades ago with 12 farmers in a parking lot on 59th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan has now grown to become the largest and most diverse outdoor urban farmers market network in the country, nearly doubling in eight years from 28 locations in 2002 to 50 today, with over 200 family farms and fishermen participating, and over 30,000 acres of farmland protected from development.

This unique relationship between farmers and city residents has not only changed the face of regional agriculture, it has also revitalized rural communities and urban spaces, improved consumer health, provided fresh and nutritious food to those most in need, encouraged crop diversity, educated school children and city residents about the importance of regional agriculture, inspired new culinary trends, and influenced chefs and eaters in one of the culinary capitals in the world.

GREENMARKET FACTS

· 50 markets locations in the five boroughs, some locations operate multiple days per week

· 18 markets locations operate year-round

· Over 250,000 customers frequent the markets every week in peak season

· Over 150 acclaimed restaurants obtain ingredients from Greenmarket farmers each week

· 5,000 students participate in Greenmarket's educational programs each year

· Greenmarket participants donate about 500,000 pounds of food to City Harvest and other hunger relief organizations each year

· Over $2.5 million in Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) coupons were redeemed by Greenmarket farmers in 2009

· Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) accepted at 29 markets in 2010, up from 3 markets in 2005, with sales going from $1000 in 2005 to over $250,000 in 2009.

· HealthBuck distribution totalled nearly $100,000 in 2009, up from $4000 in 2007

Farmer Facts:

· 182 farmers and food producers attend Greenmarkets

· 98 vegetable, small fruit and orchard growers (including 19 certified organic farmers)

· 33 meat, dairy, poultry, wool or fish producers

· 15 producers of honey, maple syrup, preserves or wine

· 24 growers of plants, flowers & evergreen trees

· 12 bakers

Greenmarket Farmers:

· own or lease 27,355 acres of farmland

· cultivate 11,808 acres

· have placed 1,277 acres in farmland protection programs, ensuring that the land will never be developed