UNION SQUARE — The recent blasts of winter’s deep chill may make shopping the greenmarket seem like an impossibility, but the city’s year-round outdoor markets will offer a range of produce to keep fridges stocked during the coldest months.
GrowNYC’s Jeanne Hodesh told DNAinfo New York that the 23 greenmarkets that are open throughout the winter (out of 69 total markets open in the warmer months) may see a change in vendors, as some take the winter off. Others stick out the single-digit temperatures with root vegetables and produce taken from cold storage.
“Shoppers can look forward to finding ingredients that make for hearty winter cooking — fixings to make stews, roasts and baked goods,” Hodesh said.
“Winter is prime time to get creative with the seasonal produce that is available in the colder months — think turnip soup, sweet potato salad, kohlrabi quick pickles, kale chips,” she said.
The fruits and veggies available throughout the winter are largely those kept in storage from harvests earlier in the year. Expect to find beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, kale, kohlrabi onions, parsnips, potatoes, winter squash, turnips, apples and pears.
While root vegetables and hearty greens such as kale will dominate the produce selection, it’s a great time to pick up locally produced meats, cheeses, preserves and pickles.
“Value-added products like jam, chutney, hot sauce, kimchi and mustard add flavor to any meal, any time of year," Hodesh said, "but we’re particularly grateful for these preserved flavors of warmer months past as we plod through hibernation season."
Sloansville, N.Y.-raised meats from Arcadian Pastures can be found year-round at the Grand Army Plaza, Greenpoint and Union Square greenmarkets on Saturdays. Likewise, B & Y Farms up in Tioga County brings its bacon and sausage to the Tompkins Square Park and Forest Hills greenmarkets on Sundays. Suffield, Conn.’s Butterfield Farm Co. delivers goat milk and cheeses to the Union Square greenmarket on Mondays and Fridays. For a full list of the vendors and where they sell their goods, check here.
Below is a list of the markets that will be open this winter:
Now Open in Manhattan:
West 97th Street — Friday
East 82nd Street — Saturday
West 79th Street — Sunday
Abingdon Square — Saturday
Bowling Green — Tuesday and Thursday
Columbia — Thursday and Sunday
Dag Hammarskjold Plaza — Wednesday
Downtown PATH — Tuesday
Inwood — Saturday
Port Authority Bus Terminal — Thursday
Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal — Tuesday and Friday
Tompkins Square Park — Sunday
Tribeca — Wednesday and Saturday
Tucker Square — Thursday and Saturday
Union Square — Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
Now Open in Brooklyn:
Brooklyn Borough Hall — Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
Carroll Gardens — Sunday
Cortelyou Rd. — Sunday
Fort Greene Park — Saturday
Grand Army Plaza — Saturday
Greenpoint McCarren Park — Saturday
Now Open in Queens:
Forest Hills — Sunday
Jackson Heights — Sunday