Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market Combats the City’s Food Desert Status
Unique local farmers market operated by the Children’s Museum
The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum (MHCM) has opened its newly initiated farmers market to locals and visitors alike in Poughkeepsie, New York. They are open every Monday from 4:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. In partnership with local farms and businesses, the Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market was created to bring farm fresh food and products to the community, especially city residents.
The City of Poughkeepsie is a USDA “food desert’’ because there is no grocery story within city limits that offers fresh, good-quality food and produce. The only available options are nearby bodegas.
“There is a huge food insecurity problem in Poughkeepsie,” says market coordinator, Liz Proscia. “We want to make fresh produce and products accessible and affordable for local residents.”
An array of colors painted the market — there were cartons of stacked peaches with marbled skin, an assortment of hand-picked berries, multi-colored tomatoes and various fall squash. Maya Goldman and her friend from Wright’s Farm in Gardner, New York, snacked on a crisp apple. Not only do they sell produce, but they offer homemade jams and pies as well as farm fresh eggs. “You can drive up into the orchards and go apple picking with your friends. Bring your dog, a bottle of wine and have a picnic,” said Goldman.
In addition to produce, there is cheese from Farmer’s Door in Red Hook, New York, granola from Sarah Perfect’s Granola in Millbrook, New York, and fresh bread and pastries — they have a phenomenal chocolate sourdough — from Frida’s Bakery and Cafe in Milton, New York.
“People come back. There are regulars,” said Henri Caminero from Frida’s Bakery and Cafe. Although the market is merely 3 months old, shoppers make their weekly visit to stock up on local goods.
The Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market serves a valuable initiative to improve the city’s food conditions. They have partnered with New York State’s WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), and WIC Vegetables and Fruit Check Program (WIC VF) to allow benefits to low-income women, infants, children and seniors for the purchase of healthful, unprocessed vegetables and fruit.
A group of students walking home carried their grocery bags, brimming with their haul from the market. This is a great opportunity for college students from Marist College, the Culinary Institute of America, Vassar and other nearby schools to start buying fresh and local.
“We can really get to know the local farms, and city residents, students and visitors now have access to fresh food and artisanal products,” says Marist student Molly Gross. “The market also really fosters a strong sense of community.”
