Planting a farmer’s market in Northport

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

Citing the success of Huntington’s Elm Street market and other local farm stands, the Village of Northport is now harvesting plans for its own flock of fresh food vendors. The new venue should be launched in the coming weeks at the Cow Harbor parking lot, located between Main Street and Woodbine Avenue, according to village officials.

In mid July, Huntington’s Town Board issued the village a unanimous thumbs-up, which was necessary since the Cow Harbor lot is situated on a town-owned parcel of land. Trustee Henry Tobin says he’s now finalizing insurance conditions and securing vendors, a task that’s proven to be a slight challenge so far.

“It’s been hard to find vendors, because Long Island’s farming industry is declining, while the demand for local farmer’s markets has risen,” said Tobin, noting that the village will likely start with a “handful” of sellers and expand the market in the fall or next year. “Most vendors want to wait-and-see the operation before they commit to jump on board.”

Currently, village officials are planning to host the market on Saturday mornings, which will coincide with the town’s 12-vendor venue on Elm Street, just East of Route 10. Since 1997, vendors say the Elm Street spot has seen a 15% boost in business each year, while the number of total vendors have more than doubled since the market’s early days.

“It’s helping farmers survive,” explained Ethel Terry of Orient’s Fred Terry Farms, who also coordinates the Long Island Growers Market, a network of 30 local vendors. “Farmers are like dinosaurs. In 15-20 years, there might be none left on Long Island, so these markets are an important way to keep our farming industry from dying out.”

The vendors—who each occupy a canopy-covered, 10-foot by 10-foot space—sell only what they “make, bake, grow or catch,” Terry says. At the Elm Street location, this includes fresh fruits, vegetables, ravioli, homemade cheese, breads, jellies and jams.

Amy Acierno, the jelly-selling owner of Miss Amy’s Preserves in Blue Point, says she joined the farmer’s market movement in the late 1990s after a trip to California.

“I ended up leaving my corporate job, and I just fell in love with the whole scene,” said Aciero, whose calls her Huntington customers “borderline cult-ish.” “In recent years, people have become more aware of what’s entering their mouth, lately because of trans fats. People also like the intimacy of talking to farmers directly.”

Nick Horman of Horman’s Best Pickles agreed. He calls the farmer’s market scene a “growing phenomenon” that’s spread via word of mouth.

“We really don’t advertise at all,” he explained.

In addition to appearing at Elm Street, Horman also sells his old-fashioned pickles at farmer’s markets in Mineola, Patchogue, Islip, West Hampton, Sag Harbor and Lynbrook. According to Terry, there’s a waiting list of municipalities looking to attract local vendors, but not enough vendors to go around.

“Everyone likes to drive out east and enjoy the beautiful farmland each summer, but it won’t be there much longer unless we buy what they’re producing,” said Acierno.

Vendors interested in Northport’s new market should call Tobin at 631-757-6577.