This is an enthusiastic blog of markets throughout New York City-and not just farmers markets. Flea, artisan and wholesale markets too. I just ordered her book which will be great to have the next time I find myself in NYC. It may also assist our research of typology of markets that we are doing at marketumbrella.org. I will add a review of the book when I finish it.
Her blog includes a very useful evaluation from a shopper’s point of view of markets:
What constitutes a market and what makes it one of the best?
Markets are places where traditionally people come to buy and sell goods directly to each other, items the seller has personally grown, handcrafted, or collected. They are usually temporary in nature, built in the wee hours of the morning and dismantled at dusk, or at the end of a season. But they can also be permanent locations where several vendors each have their own spaces.
I use the word “best” in this context quite subjectively. I am not a critic; I aim to connect markets and market lovers. So the questions I think of when I go to a market may include:
– What is the level of quality and innovation of the items and vendors?
– Is it an attractive or at least interesting location? Is it easily accessible by subway and bus?
– Is there an overall good vibe? Is the merchandise just too good to pass up? What about the food?
– Is the market important to its surrounding neighborhood?
– Is there something particularly unique about that market?
These are the things that are important to me personally. But they also are important for a market to really “stick” and become relevant to its local constituents and then to visitors from further afield.
Helping Farmers Markets Grow 