Farmers’ markets are special areas where people can share food and culture, all while helping support local farms. With the growing popularity of sustainable and organic food choices, as well as the increasing importance of farmers’ markets, I have visited and ranked the top farmers’ markets in Westchester based on product variety, price, location, vendors, and sustainability. The farmers markets in question are the town markets of Hastings, Irvington, Tarrytown, and Bronxville, all beautiful setups that truly stand out in their quality.
The Hastings Farmers Market, located along the Hudson River, makes for a charming little spot by the water. The market is set up in the parking lot of the train station with a nice view of the river and contains various vendors selling items ranging from fresh produce to apple pies. In fact, this year they are celebrating their 25th anniversary of creating the market! It occurs on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 9:30 AM to 1 PM. I recommend that you arrive on the earlier side, as products run out quickly, and it can get quite busy. Some highlights of this market are Grumpy Dumplings, a place that offers mouthwatering dumplings with fillings ranging from veggie to pork. Additionally, the Hudson River Apiaries have some of the best quality honey I have ever had. They have a wide variety of honey types, as well as delicious 50-cent honey sticks.
Over in Irvington, there is a farmers market on every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month from January to November. It is located along Main Street at Main St. School, which is very accessible because it is in the center of the town. Being in a school parking lot, there are seats and tables for people to eat at or simply to rest, which is an addition unique to Irvington. This farmers market contains the Bien Cuit Bakery with the most delicious sourdough, as well as a wide variety of other baked goods like baguettes and rye. At the Aux Bon Fromage station, several delicious samples were offered. Moreover, the vendors were extremely open to questions on the whole process of cheese making and were happy to share their knowledge. Their brie and cheddar were delicious and were reasonably priced at $15 for a block of each.
In Tarrytown, the Tash Farmers Market takes place in Patriot Park. It is by far the prettiest location for a farmers market, with cute stone bridges and a small creek running through the park. This market has been named the No.2 Best Market in New York State and was my favorite to visit. The area made the experience so enjoyable and made for such a relaxing day out. Bear Mountain Coffee Roasters had the most delicious coffee and were very knowledgeable about the different types of coffee beans. The diRiso Risotto Balls were also delectable, with several samples and the friendliest vendors. Lastly, Hudson Ceramics made the most beautiful pots and was open to sharing their process with their customers. All the pots were intricate and well-made; I ended up buying two bowls for my mom, who loved them!
Lastly, the Bronxville Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 8:30 AM to 1 PM at Stone Place on Paxton Avenue. Again, this is a beautiful spot in a rural area, with a lovely view of trees and some cows. This farmers market included the Doc Pickle stand, which had a variety of pickled fruits and vegetables that all looked fresh and delicious. I bought a big jar of pickles for $20, and the crispy, sour cucumbers were perfect for a sunny day. Additionally, Wave Hill Breads had a wide variety of beautifully scored bread, all freshly baked and warm. The vendors also sold several baked goods, such as fresh muffins, my favorite of which was blueberry, as well as a delicious cinnamon treat called cinnamon monkey bread.
After visiting all these markets and noting what made them unique, along with their variety of assets, I decided to rank them from least to greatest. I ranked the Irvington Farmers Market in fourth place because its location was slightly disappointing, as it was right next to the main road, and it did not hold many unique factors. I ranked Bronxville Farmers Market in third place because, despite its beautiful location, it is the farthest car ride away, and there are many similar, if not better, farmers markets closer in the area. Hastings Farmers Market was ranked second, seeing as it is the closest and most easy to access. Its location by the river was also very nice, and all the vendors made you feel welcome with many samples and an endless passion for their products. That being said, the Tash Farmers Market was ranked first, with it having all the positive factors of the markets previously mentioned as well as an even wider variety of products, and a quaint aesthetic with seating and being located in a gorgeous park area.
Overall, farmers’ markets remain an important and sustainable option for food sources. The food is the freshest and most nutritious you will find, and buying from local farmers’ markets also has environmental benefits, as it decreases the use of long-distance food transport through gas-powered vehicles, and most vendors use organic farming practices. I encourage all readers to go support their closest farmers’ markets, as it makes all the difference and makes for fun and enjoyable outings.