This summer, Ma Riis Park will be a source of fresh and local produce for Harrison.
On May 20, the park will host its first-ever farmers market, put together by the town Chamber of Commerce and run by Down to Earth Markets, an Ossining-based company that puts on various markets throughout Westchester County.
Contributed photo
According to Kate Cascone, Down to Earth Markets’ territory manager for Westchester, the Harrison chamber contacted the company a few years ago interested in bringing a farmers market to the town. “It took a couple of years to find a feasible location,” Cascone said, adding that Ma Riis Park was suitable due to its location near the center of the downtown shopping district.
Down to Earth Markets is a food-only market, and only hosts local vendors. Cascone pointed to the company’s two-hour drive radius rule; as a guideline, Down to Earth looks for vendors whose travel time is about two hours or less to get to the market. She said the goal is to keep goods fresh by the time the market closes at 1 p.m.
On the menu are fish, meat and a variety of produce, as well as a rotating list of specialty vendors selling honey, dairy, charcuterie, prepared foods and baked goods. Down to Earth uses nearly 100 vendors across 20 different markets.
But some vendors carry a reputation. “Dr. Pickle is one of our favorite vendors of our patrons,” Cascone said, referring to the New Jersey-based fermented vegetable vendor. According to Down to Earth’s website, seven vendors, including Dr. Pickle, have been confirmed for the Ma Riis Park market.
- American Pride Seafood, North Babylon, NY – fish and seafood
- D&J Farm, Yaphank, NY – produce
- DoReMe Farms, New Hampton, NY – produce
- Dr. Pickle, Patterson, NJ – specialty foods
- Mangalitsa by Mosefund, Ossining, NY – meat and poultry
- Meredith’s Country Bakery, Kingston, NY – baked goods
- Paolo’s Kitchen Inc., New Providence, NJ – prepared foods
Down to Earth operates at six other locations in Westchester, including locations in Rye, Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Croton-on-Hudson, Larchmont and Ossining, where the company held its first farmers market more than 25 years ago.
The Harrison farmers market will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays between May 20 and Nov. 18.
