Wednesday, October 14, 2009

How Do You Set Up Shop At The Roosevelt Island Farmers Market?

Roosevelt Island Farmers Market Last November

I received an inquiry from Yona's Gourmet Delights, a potential new vendor for the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market asking:
Do you know who I would need to contact to join the farmer market in Roosevelt Island on Saturdays?


Yona reports that she sells:
... at other farmers markets in Ny and NJ. As well as the East side and West Side Green flea Market every Sunday. I sell 4 Varieties of Vegetarian Quiche as well as Borekas, Which is a triangle appetizer with savory foods in it. I combine The puff pastry dough with traditional greek recipes like Spankopita and Tyropita. I have a very loyal following in the upper west side. I heard that a great deal of residents are internationals so they would really like the quiche.
Looks like Yona would fit right in at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market.


You Tube Video of Yona's Garden Delights

The main occupant of the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market is the Wengerd Family. Time Out New York reports:
... we stop by the island’s farmers’ market, located under a gray Motorcade parking garage. Teetering tables of fresh fruit and other produce—peaches, tomatoes, sugarplums, corn, apricots and more—are run by a group of Holdeman Mennonites led by the chinstrap-bearded Israel J. Wengerd. He’s been coming from Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, to peddle his father’s (and now his) wares on R.I. since 1988, when he was just 12. “This was always my market,” says Wengerd, “and I found the people to be very friendly.” Marketgoer Sandra Levine, a 31-year Islander and architectural historian, simultaneously lambasts the island’s Gristedes (“the worst in the city”) while praising Wengerd’s comestibles: “The stuff that says home grown on it is really good.”
According to this 12/15/01 Main Street WIRE, the local Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Parents Association has a permit from RIOC under which the Farmers Market operates. The PS/IS 217 web site reports:
Every Saturday the Farmer's Market and Marketplace at Motorgate Plaza continues to be a source of revenue for PS/IS 217. Please continue to patronize our vendors.
Can anyone answer Yona's question regarding whom to contact in order to sell at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market?

UPDATE 6PM -RIOC'S V.P. of Operations Fernando Martinez has the answer:
The school PTA manages the Saturday farmer's market. Interested vendors should contact Lydia Tang at chinatv@aol.com. The fee is $30 per weekend to set up a table.
UPDATE - 10/16 - Yona contacted the Roosevelt Island PTA and reports:
Not really sure that I will get in. I spoke to a man named brad and he said someone else was selling quiche as well. I tried to explain to him that mine are different. In that they are small cupcake size and all vegetarian but I do not know if that convinced him. He said there "would be a meeting about it" so I don't know if I will get in. Would love to since I heard it is a really nice market.

Perplexed
Yona

PS come and taste them at the east side flea (saturday)or at the west side flea market on Sundays on columbus and 77th.
UPDATE 4/12/10 - Current information as to how to set up shop at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market here.

5 comments :

Nicolas said...

I can not answer, but coincidently, I tried Yona's quiche and borekas last saturday, when we bought some from the 67th st market (betwen 1st and york ave). Everything was very good, and it would be great if she comes to the RI market, where we normally go...

I don't know if internationals like quiche more than locals, but as a Frenchman, I am always delighted to find some good ones!

Anonymous said...

Contact the PTA. The officers' contact info is on the PTA web site, which you link to.

Anonymous said...

This is interesting. How did the school's PTA get involved in managing the farmer's market? Is that space under the ramp PS 217's "property"?

Anonymous said...

This was a deal made many years ago by RIOC as a way for the PTA to raise money. The space is not PTA property, but the vendors pay a fee to the PTA for use of space at the market on Saturdays.

Anonymous said...

Interesting. Now I don't feel so bad that I've never really contributed to PS 217's PTA in the past. Excellent.