Every Sunday and Thursday year-round, there is a greenmarket right outside Columbia University that has fresh produce, dairy, baked goods and more. This market and others in all five boroughs are sponsored by Grow NYC, an environmental nonprofit that was founded in 1970. This past Sunday, I traveled to the market to see if it was worth the trek and the price.
Being a Fordham Rose Hill student, the fastest way to get to the market is by taking the Bx12 bus to Inwood and transferring to the 1 train. When I emerged from the 116th St. station, the market was across the street. In total, the one-way trip to Columbia cost me $5.80 and took me about 45 minutes. While it requires a transfer, it does help tremendously that the train and bus drop you off exactly at your destination.
My trip to the Columbia Greenmarket was my first time seeing Columbia’s campus. I was blown away by the architecture of the campus and of Morningside Heights. What surprised me when I saw the market was that the stands were not in a park or square as I envisioned it, but on the sidewalk from 116th St. to 114th St. Luckily, the street and sidewalk are very wide, so there was no problem with foot traffic at the market. My only criticism with this setup was that I had to walk up and down the two blocks a couple of times before I knew what stands I wanted to purchase from. The options were just too hard to choose from, with 14 local farm stands selling a wide variety of fresh and delicious food.
I started by purchasing a San Francisco sourdough loaf and cheese from the Breeze Hill Orchard and Knoll Krest Farm. It felt good to be outside, handing my cash over to a local farmer in exchange for freshly baked bread and cheese which he cut in front of me. I felt much better than I would walking back and forth between the aisles in a grocery store, not knowing from whom or where the food came from.
After my first purchase, I got the bug.
I went to the next stand and handpicked some exotic cultivated mushrooms from Dan Madura Jr. Farms. I do not know anything about mushrooms, but I asked the farmer at the stand a few questions. She was happy to help and tell me about her family’s 300-acre vegetable farm in Orange County, N.Y. She explained that the extremely fertile land in the black dirt region allows them to grow a wide variety of exotic mushrooms.
Next, I got brussel sprouts and kale from Nolasco’s Farm and stopped at Samascott Orchards, where I encountered apple varieties I had never heard of, like crimson gold and candycrisp. I chose four different kinds to try because they were all the same price per pound. Items I reluctantly missed out on included muffins, scones, fresh eggs, fish, meat, pasta and cider.
For everything I got, I was pleasantly surprised with how affordable the market was. I was fearful I was going to have to face the steep prices of the Upper West Side, but the produce was fairly priced — some items even cheaper than what you’d see at a grocery store! The most expensive thing I bought was the sourdough bread and cheese which ran me about $21. All of my other purchases were well under $10, so the total for my trip was around $35 which was worth it for the quality of food I got and the fulfilling experience.
If I had any advice for next time, it would be to bring cash. While most of the stands accept cards or cash, there were a few (like the mushroom farmer) who were cash only. If you forget cash like I did, it is not a problem because there are a ton of banks along Broadway right by the market. Again, cash is not necessary for shopping at the market, but it is much more convenient, and you avoid that pesky card fee. Plus, if you have cash left over after your shopping, you can stop at Absolute Bagels, which is also cash-only and delicious, though the line for handmade New York bagels on a Sunday can get quite long.
Another recommendation I have is to make a day out of it. For the long commute, it is definitely worth it to add something to your itinerary and explore the variety of things the neighborhood has to offer. There are loads of places to eat lunch, some sit-down restaurants and others takeout only. If you’re in the mood for takeout, I would recommend bringing your food to Riverside Park for a picnic and people-watching. You could also visit the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and see its iconic stained glass windows up close. If you don’t have the leisure time to explore the neighborhood, go to the New York Public Library only two blocks away from the market to do some homework before you shop. The neighborhood has a great atmosphere and something for everyone.
If you are interested in buying fresh groceries from local farmers or exploring a new spot, check out the Columbia Greenmarket from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday or Thursday. If you don’t want to make the trek or you’re busy on those days, go to Grow NYC’s website to look at the 18 other greenmarkets open year round in NYC!
