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Crown Heights Farmers Market Struggles to Survive

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Rodrick Brown‘s calaloo is about the freshest you can find in Brooklyn, but while the leafy Caribbean staple practically sells itself to Park Slope parents at the Grand Army Plaza Farmers Market, it hardly moves in the heart of Brooklyn’s Islander community.

By all rights, Farmer Brown should be a hit in on the corner of Lefferts Boulevard and Albany Avenue where he sells his wares every Thursday at the Crown Heights Farmers Market. But for a man who’s signature product is a beloved island green, that market brings precious little business.

“I do Grand Army, Cortelyou — there’s a lot of other markets I could do, but it’s about the people you sell to,” Brown said. “We find a lot of people who already know the products. That’s why I’m attracted to this market.”

Still, with business slowed to a crawl, the only greenmarket serving the eastern section of the neighborhood could soon close down.

“They’re beautiful people, they didn’t have to come here,” market founder Nancie Katz said of the farmers. “The need for a farmers market was very high — we got it opened on September 15 and it was packed,” last year, she said.

For eight weeks last fall, business boomed, just as it has for farmers markets and CSAs elsewhere in the neighborhood. In addition to the established Grand Army market, the weeks-old Walt L. Shamel Community Garden market, held Saturdays on Dean Street between Franklin and Bedford avenues, has seen stellar turn-out. Unlike those, the Crown Heights Farmers Market accepts EBT, or food stamps, in addition to cash, a boon to an area with relatively high poverty.

Yet by the time the farmers returned for the summer season, shoppers were scarce.

“We thought we’d get that same return in the spring and we haven’t,” Katz said.

Without more business, Katz and the farmers fear they won’t be able to keep the market going much longer. Which would be a shame for mom Bella Schapiro, 30, whose kids clamor for fresh fruits and veggies from the market since she started coming.

“It’s much fresher — I find my kids eat more of this fruit,” Schapiro said. “Once a year I would go to the one at Borough Hall, but I live just around the corner here, so it’s really convenient.”

Jeremiah Duncan, who stopped at the market after seeing signs from his car, said he hoped the farmers could weather the slow summer.

“I think seeing it open like this every Thursday is what’s going to get people to come,” Duncan said. “People go looking for farmers markets and don’t find them.”

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13 Comments

  • leah

    So many crown heights families go away for the entire summer. i’m sure that has something to do with it.

  • let it go

    All the market does it take away business from our local jewish stores who are there for us all year long

  • organic makes all the difference

    They need a Facebook page, plenty of people go away but plenty of people are here. Plus some organic would be a definite draw, non sprayed veggies, that would bring people in and single the Farmers Market on Lefforts out as a different, there is not enough of a reason to go there if you still have to go shop for other stuff they don’t have. Not over priced you just end up having to go to two places. Would love to support local farmers, but ….more appeal if you had organic in the farmers market….

  • sara

    The Market is only open from noon until 7 PM. Those of us who work full time don’t get a chance to shop there. Let them start at 6 AM and I’ll bli neder fill up my shopping cart !

  • Feigie

    I think the location is not the best. No buses ore train or on the way to them. I bet they would do much better in front of the Jewish Children’s Museum. Yes, they are more expensive but the produce is very fresh and flavorful!

  • wish prices were more reasonable

    im sorry to say. but its very over priced. i wish i could shop there but for $6 a small box a strawberries im sure its priced out many customers

  • OUTRAGED

    DOES THAT FARMER SEND HIS CHILDREN TO YOUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS?
    DOES THAT FARMER SUPPORT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT SELL CLOTHING FOR HIS CHILDREN?
    DOES THAT FARMER PURCHASE HIS APPLIANCES AND HOUSEWARE ON KINGSTON AVE?
    DOES THAT FARMER GO TO OUR LOCAL PEDIATRICIANS, OPTICIANS, AND DENTISTS?
    DOES THAT FARMER BUY FROM ANY OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT KEEP OUR SHLUCHIM GOING WITH YOM TOV DONATIONS AND DISCOUNTS?

    THE ANSWER IS NO!

    WE MUST SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS IF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS TO SURVIVE.

    FRESH LOCAL ORGANIC PRODUCE IS AVAILABLE IN CROWN HEIGHTS ALREADY. WE DONT NEED A (NOT EVEN CHEAP) FARMERS MARKET HERE.

  • Supply in demand my friend.

    They should move to wall street, or 42nd because a lot of people will be willing to pay for their high-priced produce.

  • we need organics

    they have the freshest produce than any of the stores in CH! BUT it is not organic :(
    it’s expensive but the food tastes better than the food i buy here in ch!

  • Seeds in the Middle

    This is Nancie, director of Seeds in the MIddle, which founded the Crown Heights Farmers Market. Thank you to those who extolled our produce of our local farmers. To address concerns here:

    Giving back to community:
    Many folks know that Seeds in the Middle, a tiny not for profit formed to empower children, schools and families to get access to all they need to get healthy, has offered numerous FREE activities to all communities – including soccer, flag football, art for kids, writing workshop for teens and tweens, puppet shows and more.

    Both farmers Roy Hildebrant and Rodrick Brown have donated MUCH to this community. Farmer Roy travels 2.5 hours to come to Crown Hts, when he has much more lucrative markets nearby because he is dedicated to offering this community fresh, healthy produce. Roy has sponsored youth soccer leagues and Soccer for Harmony, which also included Jewish children and adults. He has donated produce to both communities and he hired local youth (and paid them – something he did not need to do). In addition, Farmer Roy donated $500 to keep this market open.
    Farmer Rodrick spent the entire winter indoors at P.S. 221 at 791 Empire Blvd, between Troy and Schenectaday, teaching children how to grow food at indoor growing tables donated by Home Depot. We have extended these lessons to the Jewish community as well.
    Both farmers travel far to come to Crown Hts and have donated produce to benefit all communities – including donating to the TASTES of Brooklyn (tastesofbrooklyn.com)

    Both farmers grow responsibly. It is difficult to get certified organic in NY. They have not pursued it. We are looking into getting them that certification.

    FACEBOOK – We had a Facebook page for Crown Heights Farmers Market last fall, which was taken down by Jack Silberstein who left the market. We have put up a new Crown Heights Farmers Market FAcebook. We welcome all to like this page as we post all the fun free activities we have each week, along with what produce is being offered each week.

    ATTENDANCE – We are very concerned about attendance, as we have NO funds from any city, state or federal agency to run this market. It is totally dependent on the farmers and our fundraising to keep it up. It is simple – if folks don’t buy from our farmers, it will close. I personally, as director, cannot in good conscience ask these farmers to stay for a community that does not buy from them. We are convinced that many folks do not know about the market, so we are advertising FREE activities at the market for all families and trying to ask good-hearted folks who care to spread the word.

    A note: Our Farmer Roy is suffering from cancer and may die. He was the first farmer to come to Crown Heights. Without him there would be no farmers market.
    You are free to come to the market or not. As I said, if people don’t buy, then they will go away and a beautiful, vibrant oasis that offers free, fun, healthy activities and food for all will simply disappear.

    i have personally appealed to Community Board 9 Chair Rabbi Jacob Goldstein, who personally asked me to open this market and Rabbi Eli Cohen, of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, to spread the word of their support for this market. I understand they too are very concerned about the attendance by the Jewish community.

    FYI – we had a fantastic puppet show with Yellow Sneaker on Thursday – featured on News 12 and Mottel. Families all enjoyed.

    I assure you that if the community does not support this market, it will disappear. I hope that those who like the market, and appreciate the produce, and its presence in the neighborhood, will spread the good word.

    As a last note: We accept EBT/SNAP, WIC, FMNP and Health Bucks – for every $5 you spend you get $2 free in Health Bucks!
    Plus we offer FREE samples of the farmers’ bounty.

    We hope that makes it affordable for all. It is up to you to decide if this farmers market is an asset to your community. Your business will keep it there. If you don’t come, it disappears.

    For questions, call us at 917-756-4202 or come to the market EVERY THURSDAY, noon to 7 pm, Lefferts Park. This THURSDAY we have Me and My Park Day with Councilwoman Darlene Mealy and Assemblyman Karim Camara – with many free, family activities btw 2:30 and 5:30 pm. We may also do a gardening project to honor our Farmer Roy. In addition, we are seeking kosher chefs to demo kosher dishes using seasonal produce. All welcome.