Yeah, hardly anything grows in the freezing cold, cracking-solid winter soil. But no, that doesn’t mean you have to buy only mass-produced supermarket food during the off-season. Your local farmers thought ahead by canning, preserving, jamming, and pickling.
They also bake scrumptious breads, cookies, bars, muffins, cakes, and pies. Plus meat—you can still talk to someone connected to the cattle-raising and ranching, and learn firsthand how it all went down (Hormone-free, antibiotic-free, grass-fed, free-range, organic, humanely raised, ideally). And root vegetables—grab some local potatoes, squash, turnips, onions, beets and parsnips.
Some markets even sell craft beer, wine, flowers, cheese, and crafts. They all run from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays, but not all of them run every Saturday, so you might want to try different markets each weekend to compare.
Pleasantville Farmers’ Market: This just might be the largest winter market, with 55 vendors, although not all vendors show up every week. It’s at Pleasantville Middle School, 40 Romer Ave., Pleasantville, from 9 am-1 pm Saturdays through March 26; pleasantvillefarmersmarket.org.
Chappaqua Farmers’ Market: It’s also 9 am-1 pm on Saturdays, but this one runs through April. There’s live music, coffee, cheese, yogurt, and, of course, vegetables. Visit the market at First Congregational Church, 210 Orchard Ridge R, Chappaqua; chappaquafarmersmarket.org.
Mamaroneck’s Down to Earth Farmers’ Market: This market often holds Family Fun days with entertainment. It’s 9 am-1 pm every Saturday through April 16. Visit St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 168 W Boston Post Rd, Mamaroneck (914) 923-4837; downtoearthmarkets.com
Hastings-on-Hudson Farmers’ Market: This market runs 9 am-1 pm on the first and third Saturdays through May 28. Check out David DiBari’s DoughNation pizza truck here (look for the lemon and basil pizza). Visit James Harmon Community Center, 44 Main St, Hastings; hastingsfarmersmarket.org.
Ossining Down to Earth Market: Okay, so this one was outdoors at the corner of Spring and Main streets, but now it’s inside, at First Presbyterian Church, 34 S Highland Ave., also Route 9. Still, it runs 9 am-1 pm, Saturdays through May 14; (914) 923-4837, downtoearthmarkets.com.
