Your Guide to Local Farmer's Markets

Who doesn't love a farmers market? Lucky for us, the farmers' markets in our area are packed with everything from Italian flat beans to fresh seasonal eggs from hens on a natural biological clock. Just about the only thing you won't find in the markets are Cronut™, but then again, that might be a good thing. Two markets are new this year: New Rochelle's Grand Market, held Saturdays on the Library Green at Lawton Street; and Ridge Hill's, held Fridays in the Whole Foods parking lot in the Ridge Hill shopping complex. Also, one change and one loss: Stone Barn's market is now open only on Sundays; and Scarsdale no longer has a farmers market (a mixture of town politics and the endless construction). An alternative to the Scarsdale Farmers' Market is Ramsey's Farm, 17 Ramsey Road (914) 723-3817. The market is open 9:00 am-6:00 pm every day and has a wide variety of seasonal vegetables and plants. So, come out, support our farmers at these local markets and get some great fresh produce.

Wednesdays

Irvington: 3:30 pm-7:30 pm, Main Street School parking lot (110 Main St). irvingtonfarmersmarket.net. Vendors include Big Girl Baking Co., Chutney Masala Bistro, DoughNation, Dutch Desserts, Spice Revolution, Flourish Baking Company, Honey Locust Farm House, Mr. G's rotisserie chicken, and Penny Lick Ice Cream.

White Plains: 8:00 am-4:00 pm, Court Street between Martine Avenue and Main Street. A relatively small market but one worth visiting if you are in downtown White Plains. Vendors include North Winds Lavender Farm, Chatham Brewing, Robibero Winery, Conte's Quality Seafood, and Mead Orchard.

Fridays

Dobbs Ferry: 10:00 am-4:00 pm, corner of Cedar Street and Main. www.dobbsferryfarmersmarket.com. Vendors include Westchester Greenhouses & Farm, Big Girl Baking Co., M&M Italian Provisions, Olive Oils of the World, and Mike the Cheese Guy.

New Rochelle: 8:30 am-2:30 pm, Huguenot Park, near Iona College, www.downtoearthmarkets.com. Vendors include: Alex's Tomato Farm, Dagele Brothers Produce, Meredith's Bread, Raghoo Farms, and Tierra Farm.

Yonkers, Ridge Hill: 11:00 am-7:00 pm. www.downtoearthmarkets.com. A substantial market with weekly tastings, cooking demonstrations and children's activities. Vendors include Baked by Susan, Eden Farms Greenhouses, Go-Go Pops, Ladle of Love, Little Seed Gardens, Mead Orchards, Migliorelli Farms, Naturally Sweet Desserts, Pickle Licious. Each week, a restaurant from Ridge Hill cooks up some of its specialties using fresh, local produce from the farmers market. On July 26, Havana Central will be cooking and offering free samples from 4:00 pm-6:00 pm using heirloom tomatoes.

Saturdays

Bronxville: 8:30 am-1 pm, Stone Place at Paxton Avenue. www.bronxvillechamber.com. Vendors include Aunt Vicky's Bickys (homemade dog treats), Bambino's Ravioli & Fresh Pasta Company, Central Bakery Artisan Oven (specialty and stuffed breads; pizza; pasta sauce and seasonal soups), Do-Re-Me Farms (mushrooms, vegetables & melons), Laura Ferraro (fresh cut flowers), The Gourmet Butter Company, and Kontoulis Family Olive Oil.

Chappaqua: 8:30 am-1:00 pm, Chappaqua Train Station. chappaquafarmersmarket.org. Vendors include Clean Ridge Soap, Coach Farm, Cowberry Crossing Farm, Flourish Baking, Gaia's Breath, Honey Locust Farm, Hudson Valley Duck, Hummingbird Ranch, Joe's Mozzarella, Kings Roaming Angus, Picklicious, The Pie Lady and Son, Pura Vida Fishery, Pure Food Sisters, Raghoo Farms, Ready Set Sharp, Renee's Jams, Rich Brownies, Savor Cookies, Spice Revolution, Stone Barns, Taiim Falafel, Tierra Nut Farm. Arrive early to get fresh eggs, which sell out quickly.

Hartsdale: 8:00 am-3 pm, Hartsdale Train Station parking lot. Vendors include Scotty's County Kitchen, Bread Alone Bakery, and Regar's Natural Soap. There is usually a wide selection of cut flowers.

Hastings-on-Hudson: 8:30 am-1:30 pm, Hastings Library parking lot, 7 Maple Ave. Live music every week, kids yoga, arts and crafts. Vendors include Bombay Emerald Chutney Co., Bistro du Soleil, Bread Alone, Buddhapesto, Clean Ridge Soap Co., Chatham Brewery, Central Bakery, Cowberry Crossing, Dutch Desserts, Flourish Baked Goods, Gaia's Breath Farm, Grammy's Gardens, Guyank Hot and Sweet Pepper Sauces, Hastings Station Cafe, Honey Locust Farm House, Hudson Valley Duck Farm, Hummingbird Ranch, Lasagna Preziosa, and Let it Bee Honey. You can also get cooked to order pizza at the market.

Larchmont: 8:30 am-1 pm, municipal parking lot off Chatsworth Avenue, near the Larchmont train station. Enter on Myrtle Boulevard. www.downtoearthmarkets.com, Vendors include: American Pride Seafood, Bombay Emerald Chutney Co., Coach Farm, Dr. Pickle, Eden Farms Greenhouses, Gaia's Breath Farm, Kiernan Farm, Kontoulis Family Olive Oil, Lani's Farm, Maura & Nuccia, Migliorelli Farm, Newgate Farms, Orchards of Concklin, Orwasher's Bakery, Plates (prepared food), Stone & Thistle Farm, and Sugar and Spice (prepared foods, baked goods). In season now include purple top turnips, black radishes, chioggia beets (also known as candy cane beets), Italian flat beans and Asian eggplant.
New Rochelle: 9:00 am-2:00 pm, Library Green (Lawton Street). www.NewRochelleGrandMarket.com. More than 16 vendors offering a wide range of produce and fruits, specialty foods, fish, breads, baked goods, cheese, pickles, NYS wines and microbrews, along with services such as knife sharpening, and unique artisanal products like soap, flavored oils and custom-blended spices. Search out the Mexican herb epazote from Acevedo's Farm (Middletown, NY). This herb is traditionally used in soups and quesadillas and offers a light anise and cilantro flavor. Try it for a more sophisticated cheese panini.

Pleasantville: 8:30 am-1:00 pm, Memorial Plaza (next to the train station). www.pleasantvillefarmersmarket.org. Pleasantville-based Foodchester Inc., a local non-profit, runs this market, the county's largest. Some of the more than 50 vendors include Aba's Falafel, Adair Vineyards, All You Knead Artisan Bakers, Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse (cow's milk cheeses and rustic breads), Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, Conant Valley Jams, Cowberry Crossing Farm, Drink More Good (teas and natural sodas), Dutch Desserts, Go-Go Pops, Hudson Valley Duck Farm, J&A Farm, Krazy for Kazu's (Japanese sauces), Spice Revolution, The Amazing Real Live Food Company (probiotic cheeses and ice cream), The Butterfield Farm Company (goat cheeses and yogurt), and The Peanut Principle.

Sundays

Katonah at Muscoot Farm: 10:00 am-3 pm, 51 Route 100, www.muscootfarm.org. Vendors include: All You Knead Artisan Bakers, Bistro DuSoleil Fine Foods, Bombay Emerald Chutney Company, Bongo & Capacci Pasta, Clean Ridge Soap Company, Conte's Fish Market, Dutch Desserts, Gluten Free Dessert Kitchen, Healthway Farms, Hudson Milk, Hummingbird Ranch, JohnBoy's Farm, Kontoulis Family Olive Oil, Kiernan Farm, Krazy for Kazu, Madura Farms, Meredith's Bread, Newgate Farms, North Winds Farm, and PickleLicious. Pick up a bushel of cherries, an under-acknowledged super-fruit packed with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and 19 times more vitamin A than blueberries. For homemade kirsch, infuse one bottle of brandy with one cup of cherries and a half cup of sugar. Let stand in a sterilized glass container for one month in the refrigerator.

Rye: 8:30 am-2 pm, parking lot behind Purchase St. stores, www.downtoearthmarkets.com. Vendors include Bombay Emerald Chutney Co., Dr. Pickle, Feather Ridge Farm, Kontoulis Family Olive Oil, Maura & Nuccia, Meredith's Bread, Migliorelli Farm, New York Beef Co., Newgate Farms, Our Daily Bread, Pika's Farm Table, Tierra Farm, and Valley Shepherd Creamery.

Pocantico Hills: Stone Barn Farm, 10:00 am-4:00 pm, 630 Bedford Road. www.stonebarnfarm.org. Every Sunday come for farm-fresh Stone Barns produce, meat and eggs. Baked goods from Red Barn Bakery and assorted dairy products from Real Life Amazing Food Co. round out the offerings. Meat and eggs are now available in the Farm Store, during regular Center hours: Wednesday-Sunday from 10:00 AM - 5 PM. Stone Barn Farm runs CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), a farm share program that creates a closer relationship between farm and community. CSA members have access to vegetables not available anywhere else, including trial varieties from Stone Barn's collaborative seed breeding partnerships including Hansel and Gretel eggplant, Shimonita and Rosa Lunga di Tropea onions, Orazio fennel, Red Ace beets, Mokum carrots. So inquire about joining while you are visiting the farm.