The sidewalks of Ma Riis Park were crowded with eager shoppers ready to participate in the launch of Harrison’s first farmers market on May 20.
With 12 vendors set up for the farmers market kickoff, customers were able to choose from three farm stands, three bakeries, as well as specialty stands that sold seafood, on-the-go meals, pasta and dressings, different flavors of potato vodka, pickled vegetables, and a location that offered tool sharpening.
This weekly event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until Nov. 18.
The Harrison Farmers Market is sponsored by the Harrison Chamber of Commerce and is hosted by Down to Earth Markets, a company that brings together a variety of vendors for shoppers to choose from. Down to Earth currently has 18 farmers markets in Westchester County including nearby Larchmont, New Rochelle and Rye.
Miriam Haas, founder of Down to Earth Markets, said that two years ago the Harrison Chamber of Commerce had inquired about setting up a farmers market in the town. At the time, Haas said that it would’ve been too late in the year for it to happen.
“So this year, they called again, and we said, ‘Why not? Let’s give it a try,’” Haas told the Review.
Haas said that Kate Cascone, Down to Earth Markets’ territory manager for Westchester, was instrumental in bringing the farmers market to life.
Haas explained that Cascone worked with the Harrison Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Ron Belmont on “all the different things that go into setting up a farmers market.”
Cascone said that she began her position in January 2017, and that this was her first farmers market launch.
“I think it went very smoothly and very successfully with the help of the chamber and the mayor, and they were just wonderful,” Cascone said.
Shauna Long, of Harrison, was visiting the farmers market with her son. The two had taken a break from shopping to listen to the live music from Nanny Hagen Creek, a band that plays folk and bluegrass-style music.
Long explained she loves farmers markets and goes wherever she can find one. “I just love all the fresh fruits and vegetables and breads,” she said.
Long said she had already put a majority of her shopping spree, which included eggs, lettuce, olives and mushrooms in her car, but had come back to get her knives sharpened at Jack Knife Sharpening. “I pretty much bought from everybody,” she said.
Prior to the opening of the Harrison market, many locals in the community said that they needed to go to areas outside the town to get their fresh produce.
Jennifer Sabino, of Harrison, still had more shopping to do, having already picked out jalapeno-stuffed peppers and lettuce. She said that before the Harrison location, she went to the White Plains farmers market to shop for food. “This is nice that it’s actually local,” she said.
Sabino said she was happy with what the farmers market had to offer, but hopeful that as time went on they would be adding more vendors to the location.
Other customers, like Nicolette Mitil, said the newness of the farmers market was what had attracted her to it. Mitil mentioned her favorite part so far was the maple yogurt from Hawthorne Valley Farm. “[I’m] just looking around, just to see what’s here,” she said.
sausages, chicken, duck and goose. Photo/Sibylla Chipaziwa
John Pahucki, owner and farmer at Do Re Me Farms, said that despite it being the first day of the farmers market with some inconsistent weather, traffic to the market had been high.
“Harrison is going to be a big win for us,” said John Arlotta, co-founder of Arlotta Food Studio.
Arlotta had initially been worried about having competition with their other location at the Rye farmers market, which is open on Sundays off of Purchase Street. But after getting more than halfway through their first day in Harrison, he was no longer concerned.
“I can tell you now, having done 80 [farmers markets], this will be a big one,” Arlotta said.
