In an urban space where everything feels at our fingertips, produce available on sidewalks, dairy available at corner stores, cultural food centers just a train ride away, it is a simple luxury to venture just a bit further to purchase directly from the source, to visit them week after week, to know, down to the township, where your food is coming from.

This week, we took a trip to Union Square to get a look at one of the city’s busiest “Greenmarkets,” which so many of us have passed through, sometimes intentionally, often to cut through the park to save time. On a Wednesday morning, the Northwest corner of Union Square is buzzing. Tents line both sides of the square with a stream of people filing through. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and spring has finally reached New York. While we so often pass through just to window shop, or pick up a baguette or some herbs that are missing from our fridge, we spent an afternoon stopping at each stand, getting to know the vendors that show up week after week for their customers, selling the fruits of their labor.

We were also lucky to have passed by Andrew’s stand while one of his former apprentices, Flynn, was stopping by. Flynn learned all he knows about beekeeping from Andrew, and now owns Boogie Down Bronx Honey, a family business run by Flynn, his daughters, and their grandmother. Flynn and Andrew were kind, funny, and warm. In just one afternoon we learned so much about the world of beekeeping in New York City, its importance in the current climate, and their dedication to producing quality, local honey! 

Steps away from Andrew was a much smaller operation–a table filled with just two things: foraged ramps, and sacks filled with stunning varieties of dried beans. This is when we met Ahmed of Amoon Farm, who has been farming in Roscoe, New York since 2020. While his offerings that day were bushels of ramps, the coveted springtime wild allium, Ahmed tells us that he looks forward to the coming months when his strawberries, raspberries, and assortment of flowers are ready for harvesting and to be brought to the market.

Before leaving the market, we were drawn to a white tent that, while their tables were not as full as neighboring vendors, had shoppers in a frenzy, each of them entering the tent with a smile on their face and an excited, “I didn’t know you were back!” This was the first week that Willow Wisp Organic Farm was back at Union Square, and Greg Swartz, the founder and farmer of Willow Wisp, seemed just as thrilled to be back as his repeat customers were to see him. Greg has been farming in Damascus, Pennsylvania for 17 years, and New York should feel lucky to have his produce available to us every Wednesday at Union Square, and every Saturday at Grand Army Plaza.

He tells me he gets up at 3am (at the latest) and drives 120 miles to the city, where he has found a loyal following of those who really care about food, including some of New York’s most exciting chefs who use his produce to inspire their seasonal menus. We can’t wait to see the Willow Wisp tent in full swing–I am especially looking forward to tomato season, and to see the beautiful flowers Greg’s wife, Tannis, produces!

Taking the time, whenever possible, to be intentional in our purchases and see the sources of what we consume is a true luxury. While a seemingly small change in routine, the benefits to ourselves and our community are significant; forming relationships and supporting small businesses is a worthwhile departure from far less inviting trips to the grocery store. 

While farmers’ market’s can be pricey and inaccessible, New York City has an incentive program for households using SNAP/EBT benefits. When EBT cards are used at farmers’ markets, customers get $2 coupons, for every $2 they spend, in an effort to promote the purchase of local produce and help SNAP benefits go farther.