Greenmarket Comes to Morningside Heights, Thursdays
Throughout the Summer
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Photos
by Michael Feierman
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New
York, N.Y., June 1, 2001- For Catherine Scott,
a resident of Morningside Heights, the opening
on Thursday of the weekly Barnard-Columbia Greenmarket
on 116th Street between Broadway and Claremont
Avenue means a refrigerator full of fresh vegetables.
"I
absolutely love the market," Scott said Thursday.
"I bought fresh spinach, romaine, snap peas, and
some flowers for my office. I'm so pleased and
I think it will be a great asset to the surrounding
area."
The
market, which will be open every Thursday during
the summer with about a half dozen farmers selling
fruit and vegetables from their farms, is cosponsored
with the New York City Council on the Environment.
It fulfills a long-standing recommendation of
the Columbia-Barnard Earth Coalition.
Several
years in development, the market was originally
planned for Broadway. However, after much discussion,
it was decided that the north corner of 116th
Street between Broadway and Claremont Avenue would
be more suitable. It is near Broadway, making
it convenient for many members of the community.
The fairly-wide sidewalk can accommodate the market
foot traffic up and down the street. Finally,
the market location will result in the loss of
a limited number of parking spaces, and in no
disruption of traffic on the street.
Barnard
College will work with Columbia University to
assure that the market serves the needs of the
community with minimal disruption to local residents,
said Barnard's General Counsel Michael Feierman.
"We're happy to sponsor the market as long as
they are providing a service to our community,"
Feierman said. "We welcome any feedback that the
community has, so that we may make the market
more neighborhood friendly."
Loretta
Greenholtz, Assistant Vice President for Environmental
Health and Radiation Safety at Columbia University
noted that "this is an exciting opportunity for
local residents to have access to farm-fresh produce
in the neighborhood." Added Farmer Melissa Stannard:
"the markets are wonderful and we always get an
overwhelming response by the surrounding community."
A
25-year project
The
Morningside Heights market is part of 25-year
effort by the Council on the Environment of New
York City, a privately-funded citizens organization
in the Office of the Mayor, to bring such markets
to New York City. Since 1976, the Greenmarket
program has organized and managed open-air farmers
markets in New York City.
Today,
27 greenmarkets, each with about 8-12 farmers,
cover all five boroughs. In providing an opportunity
for 200 growers to sell over 600 varieties of
fruits, vegetables, and other farm products directly
to New Yorkers, Greenmarket supports farmers and
preserves farmland for the future. The market
in Union Square is perhaps the largest of the
greenmarkets with between 20 and 80 farmers attending.
Manager
Derek Wohlleb said, "the markets are great for
everyone. They allow farmers to stay in business
while also giving consumers farm fresh products
at a reasonable price."
A
good opening day
Both
farmers and customers of the newly established
Morningside Greenmarket are hopeful for its success.
Aline Locascio, who works in the neighborhood
says, "The Greenmarkets are a wonderful feature
of New York City, and I'm thrilled that we finally
have one in the area."
Farmers were also pleased at the opening day's
results. Patrick Malloy, who also sells produce
at the Queens market in Jackson Heights thinks
that the Morningside market has definite potential.
"It was a bit slow at first," says Malloy, " but
I think business will pick up. The markets are
a great way to bring people out and everyone seems
pleased with it."
The
market will be held every Thursday from June 29
until late fall and then begin again in late spring
based on the growing season.
Contact:
Elizabeth Piro '03, Office of Public Affairs,
212-854-2037
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