122 replies to this topic

[Todd36]

Yuno's, for basically everything she sells, except that her tomatoes are not usually the best. But for Asian cucumbers, lettuces, peppers etc., she is good. Stokes Farm tomatos are OK, but I have never had a really great one. My parents grew very good ones this year. For tomatos, I have no stand loyalty, I run around, look at everything, and buy by smell. Knoll Crest has had problems, quality could be the same, but the line is gone.

[pups224]

Is it time to revive this thread yet?? I plan to go this weekend and am not sure what to expect.

[daisy17]

You should be forewarned that the Union Square Greenmarket is a bit of a sad mess due to the construction on the north end. All of those vendors have been squished onto the west and south sides. And you thought it was crowded before . . .

BUT I've been enjoying ramps for the last 3 weeks, and this past weekend asparagus.

[kathryn]

See Lucy's Greenmarket report:
http://www.echonyc.c...reenmarket.html

Saw lots of great herbs and flowers last weekend, if you are into gardening.

Edited by kathryn, 05 May 2008 - 11:25 AM.

[daisy17]

See Lucy's Greenmarket report:
http://www.echonyc.c...reenmarket.html

Saw lots of great herbs and flowers last weekend, if you are into gardening.

What a cool site!
Yes, tons of herbs and flowers. And the lilacs I bought are delicious.

[SobaAddict70]

Ramps have been around for a couple weeks but should be flying out the door any moment now.

Rhubarb, asparagus and morels are the big ticket items. This past weekend there were Japanese turnips, French breakfast radishes and dandelion greens. I think someone had frozen sweet corn.

Different vendors are available depending on the day of the week. Fromage blanc sells at a clip as does unsalted butter and FP bacon. Get there early (or if you're like me, learn to get up at the crack of dawn. )

[stealw]

If you're into growing your own herbs; the herb guys should be in about this time.

Last year about same time i bought a basil plant, was maybe 3,4 dollars it bloomed into this huge plant. Quite the fun investment

[SobaAddict70]

Two questions --

1 -- is the Union Square market open on Wednesday this time of year (specifically will it be open next week on Wednesday)?

2-- any first hand reports of what the farmers are selling?  Asparagus, ramps, fiddleheads etc?

Many thanks in advance!

I was at the market yesterday. The produce is always expensive but usually worth while. What really galled me, was that the guy selling apples on the corner of Park and 17th Street wanted $10.00 a pound for wild asparagus. Imagine, ten bucks a pound!
As for last years produce, in addition to the apples, the potatoes are from last fall and they are sprouting.

I don't know about the prices being expensive. I go to the market every other week and usually spend enough for a week and a half to two weeks. This past Saturday, it was $55 all in; about half of which went towards organic free-range chicken. For the quality of items you get at USGM (or other greenmarkets in the city), you could easily spend double that at an Associated or Food Emporium.



Asparagus was selling for $4 a bunch, roughly comparable to what you'd expect to pay in the supermarket (with tax added in). Take a look at the size of those bunches. That's a lot of asparagus, equal to two or three meals' worth. (I say that since I'm usually cooking for one.)

It pays for itself in the end.

Edited by SobaAddict70, 06 May 2008 - 12:47 PM.

[weinoo]

Union Square Greenmarket is in full swing...today's general availability included...
All berries, sweet cherries, sour cherries, rhubarb, Jersey peaches, Jersey hothouse tomatoes (even heirlooms), every green imaginable, fresh bulb and green onions, garlic, scapes, yellow and green beans, peas, snap peas...really the only summer things I didn't see were peppers, eggplant and corn.

Oh, and there were porcini at $39 a pound as well as chanterelles (which they had sold out of).

I'm off to do a little pickling .

[scottie]

Heirloom tomatoes are finally starting to show up in greater quantities, especially the cherry varieties. Lots of peppers, corn, eggplant, pole beans, favas, English peas, and apricots.

Still some sour cherries and fresh currants. Dwindling supplies of sugar snaps. Garlic is getting much more mature. No scapes today.

I wanted to report on two things:

Squash blossoms at 4 for a dollar!!!!

And fresh ricotta: Ever since the blurb in NYT, these guys have been selling out before noon. Today they sold out by 11:30. Good news is they reduced the price- $15 for sheep, $13 for cow. Fridays only- get there early!

[SobaAddict70]

My bi-monthly haul at USGM today:

"cheese" cauliflower
brussel sprouts
lemon verbena
chives
Italian parsley
thyme
kielbasa sausage from Flying Pigs Farm
red potatoes
blue potatoes
assorted roasting potatoes (LaRatte and other fingerlings)
onions from Paffenfroth
fromage blanc from Jones Dairy
unsalted butter from Ronnybrook
heirloom tomatoes
organic peppers
delicata and kabocha squash
Swiss chard
mustard greens

[weinoo]

The greenmarket at Union Square was in full swing today. Aside from the usual early spring stuff (storage apples, potatoes, baked goods, cheese, Flying Pig Farms, etc.) Pur Vida had clams, oysters, mussels, John Dory and various other finfish; there were all sorts of spring greens to be had, including ramps, chard, mustard, kale, bok choi, broccoli raab, lacinato kale, spinach, salad greens and on and on. Lots of flowers and small herb pots for those ready to plant.

The ongoing construction, of course, means there's even less space to walk - fortunately, I was there at 10 and done by 10:30 - power shopped today.

[SobaAddict70]

And of course, the high temps meant the market was more crowded than usual. I didn't get there until 1:30 pm and paid for it in spades.

Stuff I got: cod, ramps, asparagus, cheese, potatoes, onions, herbs, mushrooms, eggs, broccoli rabe and applesauce.

No pix unfortunately.

[Marlene]

When our class was at the Union Square market last week, we also found some spring garlic and nettles and one vendor had some asparagus.

[SobaAddict70]

Some pix from this morning....















This really is my favorite time of year.

[weinoo]

Much as I suspected, and which I mentioned in my blog about cherries, today's cherry offering was very disappointing. Oh yes, the sweet cherries are there, but I guess about 60% of what I brought home (@ $4/pint) were split and even worse, some starting to deteriorate. This happens to cherries when it rains too much, especially when it's close to harvest. I can't imagine the sour cherries will be much better.

Also, the last of some strawberries that were at the market today were quite flavorless - I only tasted and didn't buy. Same with snap peas - flavorless and looking less than beautiful.

Of course, the greens are loving it and are especially lush - just make sure you triple wash them. And the scapes look amazing.

[scottie]

I agree about the strawberries. They have been disappointingly watery this season, and they spoil quickly. I've had some okay sugarsnaps, but the flavor has not been up to par. Must be pretty rough right now for many of the farmers.

Has anyone seen favas this year?

[David A. Goldfarb]

Migliorelli recently had these fat little carrots, maybe an inch or two long, which are a pain to peel, but are incredibly sweet and flavor packed. I put them with some potato wedges to roast around a duck a couple of nights ago, and they were fantastic.

Also, the local fishmongers have had great black sea bass lately. Buy the whole fish and fillet it yourself, and it comes out to about half the price of fillets, plus you get to keep the head and bones for stock.

Edited by David A. Goldfarb, 25 June 2009 - 01:12 PM.

[Lindacakes]

I got some favas at an organic guy last weekend. Late for favas, but they were good. He had a huge supply.

[SobaAddict70]

No posts since last year? Must correct that immediately.

This past weekend's haul:

squid from Blue Moon Fish
ricotta cheese from Tonjes Farm
shiitake mushrooms
herbs (onion chives, sage)
greens (lamb's quarters, chickweed)
French breakfast radishes
unsalted butter
a plain baguette
Russian Banana fingerling potatoes
spinach from Norwich Farms



Heirloom tomatoes -- fairly early, being that these were grown in a greenhouse. And the prices reflected their origin too, at $7 a lb. Didn't get any though.

Sucrine was all sold out, as were seedless cucumbers.

[SobaAddict70]

Jersey tomatoes have been making an appearance.

For this week:

Free-range chicken from Quattro's, eggs from Knoll Crest, a gorgeous head of green leaf lettuce, a baguette, tomatoes, wild arugula, lamb's quarters and assorted herbs.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I don't know if Quattro's still has the smoked pheasant, but it's excellent, and a very good deal at around $19 a bird.

Those belle rouge chickens from Violet Hill, which seem really expensive for a chicken, are a revelation.

I've been really pleased with clams and oysters from Seatuck. The other fish guys are good, but Seatuck seems even fresher.

Lots of strawberries this past week.

[HungryChris]

What are the chances of finding shishito peppers or pimento di padrone this time of year?

[weinoo]

I think slim to none.

[ChickenStu]

I have never been blown away by the greenmarket, is it just me?

The meat is frozen and overpriced, some cheese vendors dont allow samples.

$7 a lb for tomatoes...the produce never ceases to underwhelm me. Recent strawberries have tasted like water.

I do enjoy martins pretzels, knoll crest eggs, and the microgreens vendor, even though they sometimes dont tare the bags...

Its supposed to be a farmers market but there are still apples everywhere.

At least last time I went I saw Kristin Bell, even though she isnt as good in real life.

Amish gentleman selling meat and cheese, ftw.

[weinoo]

I have never been blown away by the greenmarket, is it just me?

While I'm not, in general, blown away by a lot of things, I continue to find the greenmarket an awesome resource.

Have you tried the fish or shellfish from any of the seafood vendors? Best scallops and clams I have ever had the pleasure of buying.

If you're paying $7 a pound for tomatoes, you're shopping at the wrong vendor. In May. Try the asparagus instead. Or the plethora of greens at Migliorelli.

And yes, apples at a greenmarket. A farmer grew them, stored them and then sells them. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[kathryn]

HungryChris, if you can wait a few weeks, Bodhitree and/or Lani's Farm will have padron or shisito (I remember seeing them in early July last year). I might stop by and ask how the crop is doing this year. (BTW, Nevia No has left Yuno's Farm, which is now known as Lani's Farm. No's new farm is called Bohitree. Yuno's Farm is no more.)

ChickenStu, I find that the really good stuff gets reserved for chefs who arrange for orders ahead of time/come early, or is sold out by mid-morning, BTW. It also depends what you're looking for and how the weather's been lately. Some vendors are more specialized than others. For example, Keith's is known for garlic, Eckerton Hill is known for tomatoes and hot peppers, Buzzard Crest Vineyards for grapes, Paffenroth for root veggies, Terhune for peaches (although last summer's crop was not as great as past years), etc. I tend to do a round of all of the stands before buying produce, just to see whose is looking best this week.

Plus, I only ever buy Tristar strawberries from Mountain Sweet or Berried Treasures now, have never really liked the other strawberry varieties available. But Mountain Sweet and Berried Treasures are popular with restaurants and set aside a good number for chefs; what's left is usually gone by 10am, 11am.

[daisy17]

I've become addicted to kale and Migliorelli's is delicious. Also picked up a huge bag of sugar snap peas and a giant fistful of asparagus this weekend. And soon we'll have corn and tomatoes! Completely agree with weinoo on the fish, by the way - I've almost completely given up buying fish anywhere else because of some really disappointing results.

I love the greenmarket. The produce is without a doubt better than at any grocery store, including Whole Foods across the street, and I'm supporting local farmers. It is the primary source of my produce for almost the whole year. If we could only figure out a way to eliminate the crowds, I'd be ecstatic.

[SobaAddict70]

I have never been blown away by the greenmarket, is it just me?

If you're paying $7 a pound for tomatoes, you're shopping at the wrong vendor. In May. Try the asparagus instead. Or the plethora of greens at Migliorelli.

Of course you'll be paying through the nose for tomatoes (because it's early in the season, for starters).

Most of us usually wait until late summer or early fall, when the markets will explode in tomatoey goodness. You'll be oozing tomatoes out of your eyes, you won't know what to do with them.

If you shop carefully and more importantly, in-season, it's possible to go home under $40 and be able to feed yourself for a week. I know, because I shop there weekly and I've been blogging about it for over two years.

When I hear people complain about USGM, I usually think they have an axe to grind. And you know what? 99% of the time, I'm right.

PS. Farmers have to make a living too -- all that beautiful produce doesn't magically appear out of thin air.

I'm late in posting -- for this week: heirloom beets, French breakfast radishes, lamb's quarters, puntarella, rocambole garlic. Flounder from Blue Moon Fish; bacon ends from Flying Pig Farms. The most wonderful baby potatoes from Mountain Sweet Berry.

[SobaAddict70]

The danger with letting me shop at USGM is that I'll go there with a plan to spend no more than $20 and buy stuff for twice that amount.


Cherries (unlike some people, I believe in showing everything, perfect produce and blemishes alike) -- this is more "real" to me, and a personal preference


Strawberries, from Migliorelli Farm


So for this week:

cow's milk ricotta from Tonjes, heirloom tomatoes, summer squash, zucchini, mushrooms, Persian cucumber, upland cress, herbs, a baguette, golden beets and eggs.

Pasta tonight with greens and mushrooms, maybe ricotta gnocchi later in the week. And I think a salade nicoise for tomorrow's lunch.