Valley Stream Farmers’ Market returns for third season

After two successful years, the Valley Stream Farmers’ Market has returned to the Hendrickson pool parking lot for a third season. It will be open every Thursday from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. through Nov. 18.

Sponsored by Long Island Growers Market LLC, the market opened this year on May 6, one month earlier than most other markets on Long Island, at the village’s request. Featuring nearly a dozen local vendors selling products such as baked goods, ravioli, pickles, preserves, snack bars, coffee beans, empanadas, brittle, and honey, the market offers a wide variety of farm-fresh and local foods. Once produce is in season on Long Island in June, two more vendors will be added to the lineup selling locally harvested fruits and vegetables.

According to Ethel Terry, who founded the Growers Market three decades ago, consumers can be assured that every product sold at the market is made, baked, grown, or caught locally.

Terry, who owns Fred Terry and Son Farm in Orient Point, said that Long Island Growers Market requires vendors to prove that they make or grow their own products. The Growers Market takes the criteria for participation very seriously and will conduct farm checks or look at invoices to make sure the food products are, in fact, locally sourced, she said. Although the market is open to all local vendors, Terry said that each business must also have the necessary state licenses and insurance in order to sell their goods at the market.

“Brokers are not allowed into any of our markets,” Terry, who operates several other farmers’ markets across Long Island explained. “We want our customers to know when they come in that they’re buying directly from the vendor who is actually making this product, or catching it, or growing it. That’s important nowadays for consumers to know where their food is [from]. And they have to trust their farmer.”

Terry encourages consumers at the market to ask the farmers and vendors questions to learn more about their products and where they are grown or made.

Brian Jeran from Bayshore, who owns Peck’s of Maine, an artisanal jam and preserves company, says that 85 percent of the fruits he uses in his jams are grown on local farms on Long Island. “I buy as much local as I can,” he said, explaining that he rotates 36 flavors over the year depending on what fruits are in season and available on Long Island. He said that he enjoys educating his customers about how his jams are made and the ingredients in them, adding that his products are differentiated from other jams because they contain much less sugar.

Many vendors who participated in the market in the previous years looked forward to returning to the village for another season. Isabel Adolphe, social media manager for the Levittown-based confectionery, A Little Brittle Heaven, said this is the third year the candy company is participating in the Valley Stream Farmers’ Market. “We love the community here,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see people support local businesses.”

This year’s market also features live music every week with Long Island singer and guitarist Russell Breiter, who plays a mix of country and classic 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s hits. Breiter, who was born and raised in Valley Stream, said that being at Hendrickson brings back memories of going to the park’s pool while growing up. 

Terry noted that while last year’s Covid restrictions were in place, the market was a “saving grace” for local restaurants that participated and helped to keep their businesses growing. Residents also loved coming to it, she said, because it was outside and the market ensured that social distancing and Covid restrictions were in place.

Each year, more customers are starting to recognize the Valley Stream market and it is continuing to grow, Terry said. “It’s a wonderful environment,” she added.