For 50 years, New Yorkers have flocked to Greenmarkets for farm-fresh strawberries, freshly baked bread and seasonal produce hauled in from across the Northeast. But according to the team behind GrowNYC’s iconic markets, the experience has always been about more than groceries.
“It’s really about creating community,” said Angela Davis, director of food access and agriculture at GrowNYC. “You’re getting healthy regional food while directly supporting independent farmers, but you’re also creating spaces where neighbors connect.”
This spring and summer, GrowNYC is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Greenmarket program as seasonal farmers’ markets reopen across the five boroughs — including several beloved Brooklyn locations like Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Fort Greene, McCarren Park and Grand Army Plaza.
GrowNYC has been a staple in the city, and will open a variety of Greenmarkets across Brooklyn this summer.
Since launching in 1976 with a single market on East 59th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan, Greenmarkets have evolved into a citywide network of more than 45 producer-only markets serving thousands of New Yorkers each week. Today, more than 190 farmers and producers participate in the program, stewarding nearly 49,000 acres of farmland and growing over 6,000 unique and heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables.
For longtime GrowNYC staff members like Liz Carrolo, assistant director of the Greenmarket program, the markets serve as modern-day town squares in neighborhoods often defined by their fast pace and density.
“Greenmarkets offer that third space,” Carollo said. “People come for the food, but they stay for the connection. It’s this town-square feeling where neighbors can interact, kids can participate in activities, and people can feel connected to each other and to where their food comes from.”
The organization has 45 producer-only markets serving thousands of New Yorkers each week.USDA Photo by Preston Keres
That sense of connection has become increasingly important as more New Yorkers seek healthier, locally sourced food options. Davis said GrowNYC helped pioneer the city’s farm-to-table movement decades before it became mainstream.
“Fifty years ago, reconnecting people to local food was something really unique,” Davis said. “Now people are much more aware of local agriculture and sustainability, but Greenmarkets helped lay the foundation for that.”
Beyond promoting local farms, GrowNYC has also expanded efforts to make fresh food financially accessible during a time when many families are struggling with rising grocery costs.
All Greenmarket locations accept SNAP EBT, Summer EBT, WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons, among other benefits. Customers using SNAP or Summer EBT can also receive Health Bucks — a program that gives shoppers an extra $2 for every $2 spent, up to $10 per day.
Carollo said the Greenmarkets offer a unique “third space” for New Yorkers.Photo by Deneka Peniston
GrowNYC officials said many New Yorkers still do not realize those benefits can be used at Greenmarkets, prompting the organization to launch additional outreach campaigns this year.
“We want people to know these markets are for everyone,” Davis said. “Our goal is making sure communities have equitable access to healthy, local food.”
The organization has also expanded partnerships with healthcare providers like Healthfirst, allowing some members to use over-the-counter health benefits to purchase fresh produce at participating markets.
For first-time visitors undeterred by navigating a farmers market, Carollo said GrowNYC staff and volunteers are trained to help shoppers understand everything from seasonal produce to payment programs.
“If you’re unfamiliar or unsure, go right to the information tent,” Carol said. “Our staff will walk you through how to use your benefits, what’s in season, and help answer any questions.”
The organization aims to give people equitable access to food and produce — accepting SNAP EBT, Summer EBT, WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons, among other benefits.Photo courtesy of GrowNYC
And while every market reflects its own neighborhood personality, Brooklyn’s markets stand out for their diversity, Carollo said.
“You get a completely different experience depending on which Brooklyn market you visit,” she said. “But what connects them all is that people are there for the same reason — to access fresh, high-quality food and support local farmers.”
Seasonal Greenmarkets throughout Brooklyn will continue opening through the summer, including the Boro Park Greenmarket on July 9 and the Fourth Avenue Sunset Park Greenmarket on July 11.