Lindsey F.
Yelp
I am so, so, so grateful for this Greenmarket. It's closer to my apartment than the Astoria market, and it generally has a variety of food for sale that truly belies its small size. I've been to other small Greenmarkets in the city that haven't had nearly the variety. They added a winery and a cheesemaker this past year, and I spent much of the summer trying out their different products. They also occasionally have some of the smaller farmers who are just starting out; I like to support those stands when I can. And no matter which stand I've visited, the produce has been fresh and long-lasting. I deeply enjoy talking to the farmers and workers who come to this market; walking over and selecting my food for the week is often the highlight of my Saturday.
They're doing good things at this Greenmarket: They accept EBT, which is an awesome way to get fresh, healthy food into the hands of those who often need it most, and an essential service to provide in such an economically diverse area. And they compost, so you can save your scraps from the week before and bring them back the next week, if you don't want to compost in your apartment.
The thing is, I just really, really, REALLY wish this market ran year-round. Right now, the only Queens Greenmarket which is open year-round is the Jackson Heights market, which isn't as easy to get to, and hasn't always had the same sort of high-quality produce which I've come to expect at Sunnyside. If the Sunnyside market were open year-round, it would be 5-stars for sure. As it stands, I spend not only all winter but also much of the spring scrounging for quality locally-grown food, and whining to all and sundry about it, after months of having been totally spoiled by this awesome seasonal market. Queens deserves more local food. I shouldn't have to brave the territorial attitude of the typical Union Square Greenmarket shopper just to eat well, right?