Inside Union Square Greenmarket’s Christmas Trees, Wreaths

"Run by Rick Bishop in Roscoe, this family farm is a longtime Union Square Greenmarket vendor best known for spring ramps, summer strawberries, and autumn potatoes; for more than 30 years Bishop pivots after Thanksgiving to produce holiday wreaths and miles of garland made from upstate flora. The operation is notable for its creative use of princess pine (ground pine/club moss) alongside local juniper, mountain laurel, and rose hips, and for a careful, sustainable foraging practice that avoids weak or first-year plants and rotates patches. Cut material is stored in a potato-barn cooler and misted as needed; garlands are made with a special machine while wreaths are hand-assembled by an intergenerational Guatemalan crew (with craftspeople like Rony Gomez singled out for their skill). The best-selling item is an affordable eight-inch wreath sold for $25, popular with Manhattan apartment dwellers and restaurateurs, and the seasonal wreath business provides higher margins that help sustain the farm in the off-season, though the farm’s primary identity remains food production." - Grub Street