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Greenmarket Ousted by Occupy Wall Street Tries Out New Location

By Julie Shapiro | October 25, 2011 4:34pm

LOWER MANHATTAN — After being driven out of its original venue by the Occupy Wall Street protests, the Zuccotti Park Greenmarket relocated to West Broadway on Tuesday.

Farmers said it was too soon to say whether the move would be good for business, but most were glad to be away from the crowds and mayhem at Zuccotti Park.

"It's safer here and better here," said Pasang Dhondup, 37, who works for Migliorelli Farm.

"It was way too crowded [in Zuccotti Park], and our regular customers — it was hard for them to access the stalls."

Still, Dhondup said Tuesday's sales in the new West Broadway site, between Park Place and Barclay Street, were even slower than in Zuccotti Park, noting he had seen few familiar faces. He hopes word of the new weekly location spreads and the regular customers return.

"It's a little early to tell, because it's the first day," Dhondup said.

GrowNYC, which runs the Zuccotti Park Greenmarket, announced Monday that it was moving to West Broadway because of the Occupy Wall Street protests.

On Tuesday, the three-vendor greenmarket was down to just two stalls — Migliorelli Farm and Meredith's Bread — because the third vendor, Red Jacket Orchards, didn't show up, workers said.

Still, many passersby stopped to examine the freshly baked pastries and sample the fragrant spiced pear cider at the two remaining stands, and Dhondup said he was heartened by the brisk pedestrian flow down West Broadway.

Kate Hofstetter, 38, was walking her Pomeranian on Tuesday afternoon when she stumbled upon the farmers market. She lives nearby and used to go to the one in Zuccotti Park, but stopped after the protests started.

"I just don't want to go in there anymore," Hofstetter said of the park, citing the noise and crush of protesters.

Hofstetter, who picked up a bag of apples, added that the new location was more convenient.

The farmers market's new spot even attracted some Occupy Wall Street protesters, who trekked up the seven blocks from Zuccotti Park after hearing that the vendors had been forced to move.

"We've got to support the little guys," said Matt Rosen, 36, a bearded New Jersey resident who is living in Zuccotti Park.

"I don't want to support agribusiness. I want to see where my food comes from."

After purchasing some fresh pears, Rosen added that he wished the market could have stayed in Zuccotti Park. But he acknowledged that it's been getting too crowded.

The Zuccotti Park Greenmarket is now open Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on West Broadway between Park Place and Barclay Street. The market closes for the season on Dec. 20.