As the Covid-19 outbreak takes hold in the US, daily life is increasingly restricted with businesses shutting up shop across the country. With food being as essential as it gets, open-air food and farmers’ markets are staying open – albeit in different capacities (some being online only), and under strict guidelines for the safety of communities. Here are five you can bank on in the city.
Union Square Green Market is open for business
Farmers' Market, Market, Fusion, Healthy
Courtesy of Hell's Kitchen Antiques Fair & Flea Market
As the flagship market for environmental non-profit GrowNYC, Union Square Greenmarket is open year-round. During these tough times, the market is staying open during its usual hours of 8am until 6pm every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday – so you can fill up your bags with essential supplies, while supporting local farms that need the help more than ever. Expect fruit and vegetables galore, various cuts of meats and organic breads.
Park Slope’s Down to Earth Farmers Market offers a pick-up service
Farmers' Market, Market, Healthy, Fusion
Due to the current situation, Downstate New York’s Down to Earth Park Slope Farmers Market has made the decision to cancel its market for the time being. A selection of vendors, do, however, continue to operate thanks to technology. Head to the market’s Facebook page dedicated to taking orders from independent farm and kitchen businesses. The page includes a comprehensive list of all of their vendors like bakery Pipini Breads – with details about whether it can ship orders or whether you will need to set up an in-person meeting point.
Farmers' Market, Market, Healthy, Fast Food, Contemporary
Courtesy of Chelsea Market
Taking a similar stance to Down to Earth Park Slope Farmers Market, Chelsea Market has closed its doors temporarily but taken things online. You can load up your digital cart with all of your essentials – along with some treats like a cheese spread courtesy of Saxelby Cheesemongers and doughnuts from Doughnuttery – and have grocery store delivery platform Mercato.com bring it directly to your doorstep. Head to their Twitter to find out more.
Sahadi’s offers in-store shopping and curbside pickup
Market, Farm Shop, Grocery Store, Middle Eastern
Sahadi’s has been serving up Lebanon cuisine out of Manhattan since 1898 – and they continue to do so during this crisis. Their store stays open from 11am until 7pm daily, with curbside pickup as an optional extra safety precaution. You can fill up your bags with all sorts of goodness – choosing from over 30 types of olives, 200 cheeses, falafel mixes, pickles, dried fruits and fresh Mediterranean spices.
Encouraging New Yorkers along with the rest of the nation to “Stock up. Stay in. Eat well.”, The New Fulton Fish Market is putting emphasis on the delivery aspect of its business model – with discounted prices and free deliveries available. While the 400,000-square-foot (37,000-square-meter) market (which is the largest in the US) stays open, you needn’t leave the house for your fresh seafood, which includes roughly 300 varieties from salmon and tuna to octopus, shark and conch. Find out about its discount offerings on its Twitter.
