New Rochelle to Create Saturday Farmers Market

Plans are being finalized for a new farmers market experience in New Rochelle that will be on Saturday.

The City Council decided Tuesday to not renew an agreement with Down to Earth Farmers Markets, formerly Community Markets, to operate the farmers market which was set up at Library Green on Fridays.

Councilman Ivar Hyden, D-District 4, said he has been working with the New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District to get a new, larger farmers market going at the same location on Saturdays beginning June 1.

"The BID invested some money in this and plans to live up to their agreement of getting this up," he said.

Hyden said there was an objection to continuing Down to Earth's farmers market on Fridays, adding that it was felt its presence would dilute the impact of the new market.

"I think it would be a bad move to have both," he said.

"The best estimate is that we will have 20 vendors," Hyden said, and the selections will be made within the next three to four weeks.

During the recent season, Down to Earth had five vendors on Fridays in New Rochelle.

Hyden said the Saturday market will have raw fruits and vegetables, prepared foods and ethnic food vendors, along with entertainment every week. The BID's Family Days series will be incorporated into the farmers market as well.

He said some vendors have expressed a desire to offer employment to young people because they are working other venues on Saturdays. They could drop off the goods and have the young people work the market for them.

City Manager Charles Strome III said the city will investigate a Friday market with Down to Earth in the north end of New Rochelle if an appropriate location and plan can be determined.

He said the city would only be involved if the location was a publicly owned one.

Mayor Noam Bramson said the city has had a good relationship with Down to Earth over the years and would like to see that continue.

He said for a city of New Rochelle's size it wasn't unreasonable to think two markets could be supported.