Union Square Greenmarket

Something that isn’t necessarily common knowledge that absolutely should be (in our most humblest opinion): sweet cherries are for snacking, sour cherries are for baking (and cooking!). To the untrained eye, the sours are almost indistinguishable from sweet cherries but, if you look closer, you’ll notice they’re smaller and have a telltale bright, scarlet glow when the sun hits them. They’re a rare find as they’re only around for a short window and, being the delicate fruits ...that they are, don’t often make it to grocery store shelves. Another opinion of ours: cherry pitters be darned! We say make pitting a group project and remove them with a paper clip (unbend it into an S-shape and use the curved side to push the out out), chopstick, metal straw, or with your fingers. Grab a quart or two and from @caradonna_farms today or Saturday and get your cherry pie on! Or bake them into a cake. OR whip up a sour cherry compote to drizzle over vanilla ice cream. You know the drill! Sour cherry hacks, recipes, and accolades in the comments!

HAPPY PRIDE FROM UNION SQUARE GREENMARKET! Come one, come all, tomorrow from 10am-2pm at the Northwest corner of the plaza we will be having a VEGGIE-THEMED PRIDE PHOTOBOOTH! Bring a friend and strike a pose!

Ok honeys, mark your calendars! This Saturday, June 26 from 10AM-1PM, Andrew Cote (of @andrewshoney!) will be selling and signing copies of his premier book, Honey and Venom: Confessions of an Urban Beekeeper! The book is a game changer for your summer reading list. In it, Andrew, a fourth generation beekeeper and industry lesson per the New York Times, takes us behind the scenes on many an urban beekeeping adventure. We accompany him across the city to capture honeybee swarms and tend to hives atop some of the city's most iconic buildings as well as travel as he teaches beekeepers around the globe how to increase their honey yield and income via their beekeeping efforts. Along the way you meet many a quirky character and share in Andrew’s awe and admiration for the hardworking and mystical honeybee. Hope to see you there!

Wishing a Happy Father’s Day to all the incredible fathers, grandfathers, and father figures at market. Y’all are inspirations to us all! Photo #2 snapped by @roryinnyc

Happy Juneteenth! Earlier this week, Juneteenth was designated an official holiday,though Black Americans have beencommemoratingthis dayfor over 150 years.On June 19, 1865, twoand a halfyearsafterPresident Lincoln signed theEmancipation Proclamation into law, enslaved Texans finally received word that they were free, thus ending chattel slavery in the United States. A huge part ofanyJuneteenth celebration is the food.For Nicole Taylor (@foodculturist), Junetee...nth calls for celebrating with family and summer’s sweetest produce.In a recent article for @foodandwine,Nicole shares some of her fruit-centric dishes from Juneteenth feasts over the years. Thedishes I make with fruit for Juneteenth... carry the patina of endurance," Taylor writes. "Ancestors, memories of Juneteenths past, and the larder dictate each recipe's flavors. The colors are symbolic, their sweetness is the promised land, and, by itself, any fruit can stand tall. Their ripeness gives more time to kick back, to do less. One can bow, take a seat, and partake in the meals-devouring the fruits of our labor. WhileJuneteenth spreads vary depending on the region,red foods, such as strawberry soda or pie, hot links, and hibiscus-flavored drinks,are mainstays.Many say the color red symbolizesthe blood of the millions of enslaved people who suffered and died.Somehistorianssuch as Michael Twitty (@thecookinggene), discuss another significance.In hisblog, TheAfroculinaria,Michaelsaysthe practiceof eating red foods...may owe its existence to the enslaved Yoruba and Kongo brought to Texas in the 19thcentury.For both of these cultures red is the embodiment of spiritual power and transformation. Enslavement narratives from Texas recall an African ancestor being lured using red flannel cloth, and many of the charms and power objects used to manipulate invisible forces required a red handkerchief. We hope your celebrationsthis weekendaboundsin good food and good company.

GrowNYC has updated our COVID-related safety protocols across Greenmarkets, Farmstands, and Fresh Food Box sites in accordance with new guidelines from the CDC and New York City and State Departments of Health. Vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear masks and social distancing will no longer be enforced. GrowNYC no longer regulates touching/handling produce. Individual farm businesses may set their own safety requirements; please read signage at stands.... All concerns regarding this policy should be addressed to GrowNYC management via email at [email protected]. We are grateful to our farmers, staff, loyal customers, dedicated volunteers, and composters for your commitment to supporting local agriculture and zero waste initiatives. Thank you.

A Greenmarket burger night is in the works! Front and center are the famous DiPaola Turkey burgers, juicy and seasoned to perfection. Top it with some salty, sharp cheddar + dill pickles from Millport Dairy, a thick slice of a brandywine heirloom from @shushan_valley_hydrofarm, luscious @twoguysfromwoodbridge lettuce, and the @bfkitchen garlic rosemary mustard for a special touch. Served on a slightly toasted milk bun from @lostbreadco with a side of purple Peruvian potato chips from @mountainsweetberryfarm and you’re in burger business!

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s work with sanitation workers and for housing rights has inspired environmental justice groups to continue the fight for social justice, particularly a clean and healthy environment for all people. The night before his assassination in April 1968, Martin Luther King went on strike with sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. The strike continued after his death with a march through Memphis that was attended by 42,000 people. The strike ultimately... succeeded and became one of the first fights against environmental racism. The same rights Dr. King defended are fundamental to the focus of today's environmental justice movement - the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income. Thank you, Dr. King, pictured here marching with striking Memphis sanitation workers in 1968. The market is open today from 8AM-6PM with compost drop off available from 8AM-6PM.

This marbled perfection is none other than the bacon from @moxieridgefarm! Lee’s pork is a seasonal product, only available during the lean months of winter while his goats are taking a break from milking. It’s in this moment that we welcome him to the Saturday market! His pigs spent the season feasting on whey and acorn and hickory nuts and now it’s time for you to feast on the delicious results! Of course there’s the bacon but you’d be remiss not try the ham steak while you’re at it! #bacon #gmktnyc

As Dr. Martin Luther King’s National Day of Service approaches, we celebrate his contributions to the American civil rights movement. Help to amplify Dr. Martin Luther King’s message of equality and justice by participating in volunteering opportunities and online events taking place on this day of service. Events include: @hunger_free_america: Celebrating 20 Years Of MLK Serve-A-Thon; a series of virtual workshops addressing the intersectionality of food justice @repair...theworld: Participate in one or more volunteer opportunities throughout the weekend. @brooklynmuseum: Virtual Teacher Workshop: MLK Day of Action. A series of professional development workshops for educators in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. @museumofcityny: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. An interactive and intergenerational workshop for children ages 7 and up and their grownups. @moadsf: Celebrate with MoAD on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service! Free admission to exhibitions and to a full day of programming to honor the work of Dr. King. @bam_brooklyn: The 35th Annual Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. @apollotheater: Tune into "The Takeaway" on WNYC for the Apollo Theater and WNYC's celebration of MLK this year. All events are free! Check out our Story for links to these exciting events!

ATTENTION CUSTOMERS: there has been a recall of the Rambler Cheese from Tonjes Farm due to the detection of Listeria Monocytogenes. If you bought this cheese product from Tonjes Farm, one of our Saturday dairy producers, on or before December 30, please do not consume. The Rambler Cheese is an aged, raw cow’s milk cheese that comes in a vacuum-sealed package. Please note the listeria has not been detected in any of their other products. Click the link below to learn more. https://www.grownyc.org/blog/notice-recall-tonjes-farm

Nothing says fall like a warm and hearty bowl of butternut squash! Enjoy the flavors of fall by tuning into an Instagram live with @gennymackmeals, hosted by @unsqgreenmarket! @gennymackmeals will show us how to prepare a wonderful butternut squash curry using fresh and seasonal produce, lots of herbs, and pantry staples such as lentils and rice. All ingredients can be found at a number of Greenmarkets! This dish is a perfect addition to your Meatless Monday line-up, or for anyone looking to incorporate more plant-based meals. Tune in Tuesday, October 27 at 6 PM here on our IG live. We hope to see you!

You might have potatoes, but are they dressed for the MASQUERADE!? @luckydogorganic brings a wide variety of pretty potatoes to market, but these two-toned masquerade potatoes caught our eyes today. Vibrant pink and gold on the outside and a warm amber on the inside, these bite sized jewels are dense, starchy and ready to be roasted or steamed, and then slathered in butter. These are such a great way to bulk up any roasting tray of veg. And they’ll do quite well in a soup or stew too! Break out of your typical potato routine and join the masquerade! #gmktwinter

Join us tomorrow, Sunday 10/25, at 12:30pm on IG Live as cookbook author and Greenmarket maven Rinku Bhattacharya (@spice_chronicles) shows us how to make Parathas (stuffed Indian Flatbreads) with beautiful local romanesco and goat milk feta! This will be the first in a series of IG Live events that Rinku will do with us, featuring simple, locally sourced recipes that we can cook together leading up to Diwali and the end-of-year holidays. We love Rinku’s delicious and dep...endable recipes, developed with efficiency and stress-free kitchening in mind. Rinku describes her cooking as spice enhanced dishes with a touch of the Hudson Valley. Years ago, Rinku says, I was determined to ensure that family meals did not get into a boring rut to cater to the daily rigors of practical living work, school, life as we know it. I am constantly looking for ways to simplify my cooking. I have an instant love for the instant pot, love the air-fryer, and am willing to try anything on a sheet pan... At the heart of everything is my deep love for the traditions of the Bengali cooking that I grew up on. Check out the link in our bio to scroll through the incredible resource that is her website(!), and swipe thru for two of her award winning cookbooks, Instant Indian which is devoted to her love of the Instant Pot, and Spices and Seasons which features lots of creative ways to use all the Greenmarket goodness we love. We’re so thrilled to be teaming up with Rinku for this #homefortheholidays series. Can’t wait to get cooking with you!

If you pause a moment before these crates of quince you’ll be rewarded with the most heavenly scents of rose and lemon! The Honeycrisp apples smell lovely too. It’s a crisp fall day, a perfect ending to #ryeweek2020 here at market. Speaking of rye week , make sure to join us today at noon as @nydistilling is taking over our Instagram and going live! You’ll get a tour of their distillery plus a step-by-step run down for a couple of awesome rye cocktail recipes inc...luding how to make a Cider Sling (using locally grown and pressed apple cider of course, use fresh apple cider or hard apple cider for even more boozy depth)! Rye is a crop that grows in abundance in our region and helps with soil health and preventing soil erosion. And we’ve got a ton of master distillers at market today who turn that rye crop into deliciously complex and smooth spirits. Perfect for an autumnal sip! Cheers! #ryeweek2020 See more

If you’ve been to the Market Info Tent, then you’ve seen our beautiful seasonality banner drawn by @aly_illustrations. Her series of produce calendars are such a visually striking way to start up conversations around seasonal eating and shopping according to what’s growing in our region. Support a local farmer this fall! It’s such an abundant time of year around here! Check out Aly’s Instagram page for more info about her gorgeous work! #gmktfall

If you’ve missed tasting @chefdavidstample’s cooking at market then you’ve got to come check out our Cozy Chili Night pop-up this coming Wednesday 10/28 from 1PM-9PM at @hunkydorybk! It's all locally sourced Greenmarket goodness! Swipe thru to see some of the ingredients we’re sourcing! A handmade selection of awesomely autumnal soups (your choice of warming soup, veggie chili, or @roaming.acres bison & bean chili ) all from our farmers and created by hand by @chefdavids...tample. PLUS your choice of heavenly cornbread or fluffy focaccia by Greenmarket friends @dknycbaker and @missbuckwheatlevain. And yes, we'll take a white chocolate bread pudding made with @breadalonebakery brioche with @hunkydorybk soft serve for dessert please! Thanks, Chef! ***A portion of the proceeds will be used to replenish Community Neighborhood Fridges serving those in the Upper Manhattan and the Bronx areas.**** To pre-order your soup 'n' cozy-carb combo, Venmo $15 (per order) to @hunkydorybk. Be sure to include your name and desired pick-up time in the notes. If Claire and David can't get you inspired to support local farmers and feed your community, well then you may as well be a scary 'ole jack'o'lantern scrooge! Menu and pricing Chili & bread $15 (Mushroom & bison) Soup & bread $15 (Pumpkin) 16oz Cornbread $3 Focaccia $3

We’re looking forward to sipping and snacking with y’all tomorrow night for the latest installment of GrowNYC Cooks with @chefdavidstample and special guest @clairesprouse! We’re making PEPITAS!!!! And a special Old Fashioned with pumpkin and fresh herbs! Head to market today to pick up a bottle of @nydistilling rye , your favorite winter squash , your favorite fresh herb , and maybe even a dried pepper for roasting with those pumpkin seeds! Link in bio to sign up for the free fun zoom sesh! #ryeweek2020 #ryeweek

Announcing a couple of ultra-cozy culinary collabs between our one and only @chefdavidstample & the owner of @hunkydoryBK restaurant, chef @clairesprouse! One event is virtual & one IRL !: Another FREE and epic installment of GrowNYC Cooks comin' Catcha THIS Thursday 10/22 from 6pm to 7:30pm! This will be a super chill snacks-and-sips virtual hang where chef David will show us how to make some undeniably crave-able PEPITAS from the seeds you've scooped out of... your favorite pumpkin or winter squash variety! And Claire's gonna show us how to use some of that extra squash to shake up a *very pro* spooky cocktail (or mocktail with some zippy ginger tea swapped in for the dark colored booze of your choice)! Link in bio for the FREE sign up and to get that super simple market-FRESH ingredients list so you can shake and shimmy along! And we can't wait to meet you at Claire's spot, @hunkydorybk, on Wednesday 10/28 from 1:00pm to 9:00pm for Cozy Chili Night! It's all locally sourced Greenmarket goodness! A handmade selection of awesomely autumnal soups (your choice of veggie chili, warming pumpkin soup, or NJ pastured @roaming.acres bison & bean chili ) created by @chefdavidstample. PLUS your choice of heavenly cornbread or fluffy focaccia by Greenmarket friends @dknycbaker and @missbuckwheatlevain. And yes, we'll take a white chocolate bread pudding from @breadalonebakery brioche with @hunkydoryBK soft serve for dessert please! Thanks, Chef! ***A portion of the proceeds will be used to replenish Community Neighborhood Fridges serving those in the Upper Manhattan and the Bronx areas.**** More details on how to pre-order this scrumptiousness comin' 'atcha this Thursday. Support your local farmers, your local restaurants, and switch it up a bit this week and next! See more

Double tap if you’re ready for #RyeWeek2020! This annual celebration of all things #rye takes place October 17-25! Why celebrate rye? This ancient grain has played a huge role in New York agriculture for centuries! It enhances soil health and can withstand cold weather, making it the perfect cover crop. Celebrate this mighty grain’s versatility and nutty, spicy, and delectable applications. Keep reading for some celebratory ideas! Visit @grownycgrains and pick up a bag of ry...e berries and whip up a rye berry salad! We have some rye distilleries popping up at market this week! Enjoy some rye whiskey on the rocks or stay cozy with a rye hot toddy. Find @nydistilling at market today and Wednesday and @vanbrunt_whiskey next Saturday! Snag a loaf of rye bread from your favorite baker! Pick up some rye flour from @grownycgrains and make some rye chocolate chip cookies or your very own rye bread. Give the gift of Greenmarket rye whiskey! Pick up a bottle from one of our local distillers. Try @hillrockestatedistillery or @orangecountydistillery! Get your rye on! #gmktnyc #grownyc

Radishes are among the heroes of the temperate spring crops. And boy oh boy is it a joy to see them return to market again in the temperate fall. Bonus fall radish crops include the giant mighty daikon and the purple daikon, the colorful watermelon radish and the stingingly spicy black radish. Once again our friends at @jamesbklyn has captured the beauty of the harvest. These specimens here were grown by @berriedtreasuresfarm. Grab the umbrella, put on your mask and come say hi! #gmktfall

Granny Smith also says: complete your census! Time is running out. The recent Supreme Court ruling means that the census ends this Friday (October 16) at 6 AM EST. Close to 40% of New Yorkers still need to self-respond to the 2020 Census. If on April 1 you considered your primary home to be in New York City, regardless of where you are sheltering for COVID-19, you must fill our the census using your NYC address! New York City’s future and recovery from COVID-19 depend on an a...ccurate count. Filling out the census helps to make sure our community gets the funding we need for food access, health care, and more. Many programs at @grownyc such as our Emergency Fresh Food Box are affected by census results, and we need your support to continue to help those who need it the most 10 questions in less than 10 minutes will impact the next 10 years. Click the link in bio to complete the census now. It only takes a few minutes to fill out. Online, at www.my2020census.gov By phone, at 1-844-330-2020 (English), or 1-844-468-2020 (Spanish).

We’d like to celebrate and give thanks to Luna Family Farm for reliably cheering our market every single week! Their marigolds are unparalleled. Their dahlias, spectacular. And their gladiolus, which are Pablo’s favorite flowers, offer a stunning and colorful floral performance that bring us so much joy every season. This incredible business is truly a full-on family operation, and a testament to the notion that anything is possible when you work hard and have the support of... such a loving and dedicated family like the Lunas. Pablo Sr. has worked as a flower farmer for most of his life. Three years ago, after many years of dreaming and planning, he started his own farm. The Lunas grow over 40 flower varieties and bring them by the bucket to Union Square every Wednesday and Saturday as well as to the Columbia Greenmarket on Thursdays and the Stuytown Greenmarket on Sundays. We asked Pablo why flowers and he didn’t even skip a beat: Voy a sembrar flores porque traen paz, felicidad, y amor. Y también quiero traerlas a mi esposa. | I grow flowers because they bring peace, happiness, and love. And also I want to bring them to my wife. Swipe through to see photos of the whole family in action on the farm! #latinxheritagemonth #grownyc #gmktnyc See more

This month for GrowNYC Cooks we are mixing things up- literally! Join us for a free Mix and Mingle Happy Hour this Thursday at 6PM with @chefdavidstample and special guest Joana Herrera (@joanies80) of @mariachi_mexak. Joana will be mixing up a market-inspired cocktail affectionately named after her weekly trips to the Greenmarket: El Día de Plaza! @orangecountydistillery’s gin meets fall's sweet pears meets summer's heat with a golden beet and habanero simple syrup. Then, get your molcajete out because it's not Happy Hour without a snack! Using the traditional mortar and pestle method, we'll be making a tomatillo salsa to enjoy with some market crudité. Bring us all your simple syrup questions and join our Zoom room this Thursday! Head to the link in our bio to sign up! #grownyc #gmktnyc

Whether or not you make it out to pick your own apples this season, there is no denying the total and complete revelation that is biting into a fresh apple. We’re having a lot of fun at market this fall hearing so many accounts of folks tasting the best apple of their lives, extolling the virtues of their newest favorite variety. Here you’ve got a truck full of some fresh picked @locustgrovefruit goodness! Swipe for one of their gorgeous Evercrisps ready to for you to pick(...!), and keep swiping for some of @samascottorchards trees just totally laden fruit. Worth a drive up the Hudson valley to witness , and certainly worth a market visit, even for one apple alone. Check out @escapemaker for some awesome resources as to where to go and when to pick! Pumpkins too! Last photo is the pumpkin patch in front of the farm store at @phillipsfarmsofnewjersey. Fall y’all. #gmktfall See more

Latinx Heritage Month continues and we wanted to take this moment to formally introduce @rooted.family.farm! While the business is new they are no strangers to Greenmarket; the Gonzalez/Presha family has been growing food for New Yorkers for the last 30 years! It all started in the 1990s when Hector, who was born into farming and worked at conventional farms throughout his life, connected with what was then Morse Pitts’s unconventional operation, Windfall Farms. Morse's way o...f farming with no herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, etc. appealed to Hector and his small family. He quickly realized that this was the way he wanted to farm and he stayed on with Windfall, eventually bringing all of his brothers in to farm with him. Last year Morse retired and succeeded part of the farm to the Gonzalez/Presha family and thus, Rooted Family Farm was born this past January! After 30 years of cultivating the land and soil, they continue their work as farm owners. Janette, Hector’s daughter, and her husband Marc, pictured in the first photo, run the business and marketing side of the operation and consider themselves farmers in training. Hector’s brother Canu grows all the micro greens, something he knew nothing about upon arriving at Windfall and is now an expert. Hector and his other brother, Lucio, grow all the other greens! At the root of all they do, is the importance of continuing to grow safe and nutritious foods for the community and their family with practices that keep their health and the earth in mind. The feedback we get from our customers make all of the hardwork worth it. We look forward to the challenges and the experiences that will grow our own business and establish our own identity, not forgetting Windfall's idea of unconventional farming. Find Rooted Family Farm at Union Square Greenmarket every Wednesday and Saturday!