Airing of Grievences: The Myth of High Greenmarket Prices

This dude is an idiot – why would you pay $7 for some radishes? 

'I'd shop at the farmer's market, but everything is too expensive!' is the classic excuse that people use to justify going to the supermarket.

Just like anything else you need to look at your options.  I understand that the green market has some stands that rip you off (more often at Union Square and Grand Army), but there are plenty of farms that offer better than supermarket prices; and that’s supposed to be the one advantage of a supermarket.  

Here are some examples (after the break):

• $1 for a bunch of Radishes from S&;SO (at Greenpoint)
•  $1 per pound on Red/Yellow Onion from S&;SO; ( as $1.99 per lb at local supermarkets)
•  Tomatoes for $2 a pound at various stands – when in season
• Zucchini and eggplant (various varieties) for $1 a pound at Gajeski Farm (Sunnyside)
• $1.25 per pound for an infinite variety of apples and pears at Samascott Farms (Dag Hammarskjold) – they also superior quality to Red Jacket Orchards (most markets), which can be as much as $1.75 depending on which market you’re at.

Sure, some of the more expensive stands might have slight better quality product, or a variety you want to try.  But like everything in life you have to do a cost-benefit analysis - if it’s two or three times as expensive, is it that much better; and in most cases the prices have nothing to do with quality of the product.

Oh yeah – don’t buy the value added products, the prepared foods that various farms offer.  I know these are the high margin products for farms, and I’m all for supporting the farms, but they’re almost always ridiculously expensive and usually pretty bad - especially the baked goods.

Here’s a thought, MAKE IT YOURSELF -you’re already taking the time to go to the farmers market, why not give it a shot.

Do you know how little effort jam making is, or pickle making?  Look it up - one is just a matter of heating up sugar and fruit, the other is just pouring some vinegar over cut up vegetables.  

The type of person who buys the prepared foods from the greenmarket are the same people who shop at Trader Joe’s – Interested enough in appearances to go out of their way to shop somewhere specific, but too lazy to avoid getting ripped off.

If you don't want to cook, and feel like spending money, go to a restaurant - unlike most cities, there a plenty of great ones in New York.