August 15th, 2020

Last Saturday, a man in a gray cap approached me at 8 a.m. and asked if he could be allowed into the market early to shop. He was neither elderly nor immunocompromised. He was, however, a chef in a bind.

Chris Vergara who owns both Harper's in Dobbs Ferry and St. George here in Hastings, had to shop (and cook!) for 30 guests for a wedding reception happening later that day on Harper's bucolic outdoor patio. And Vergara was starting from scratch. Harper's had been without power since Isaias blew threw the Rivertowns, knocking down trees and electrical poles, like an angry, lumbering giant. When he'd gone to bed the night before, the power was still out at and,  as far as he knew, the wedding was still canceled.

But at 3 a.m. the power magically came back on. And so the wedding was back on, too. Most everything in the walk-in fridge had to be tossed. Vergara needed good, fresh food FAST. He came to the right place, of course. I asked if he had a menu to work with so I could help him find the ingredients he needed, but he was working it all out in this head and clearly having fun doing it. Mushrooms? Scallops? Ground Lamb? Charcuterie? Flowers? (He even returned a couple of hours later for more herbs and greens).

So, please forgive us. We are typically very strict about not allowing shoppers in before 8:30 a.m. but we felt, in this case, we could make an exception. We hope to get Vergara's menu and pictures of the party and spread and we will forward them if we do. In the meantime, the Hastings Farmers Market wishes the happy, and clearly, lucky, couple a lifetime of delicious locally-sourced meals.

Just a reminder that though the market is open to all shoppers from 9:30 a.m. on, the first hour of the market (8:30 to 9:30) is still reserved for the elderly or otherwise vulnerable shoppers as well as for first responders, doctors and nurses. Thank you for honoring this. Also, thank you for giving people the benefit of the doubt and practicing kindness. If you feel someone is in the line erroneously, please reach out directly to our volunteers or staff. 

Olivia del Rio's sewing machine has been powered up again so she will be at the market with her lovely masks. Why not buy an assortment for someone heading off to college?

Don Carvajal finally has some decaf coffee beans available for purchase. And if he is able to plug into the knife sharpener's generator, he will be able to grind the coffee to order, too. 

Also, Food is Med will be here with their nutritious and flavor-rich microgreens, herbal teas and tinctures and gourmet spices. And Mountaintop Maple comes but once a month so make sure to pick up some syrup for French toasts smothered with blackberries from Wright's Farm.

And third Saturdays mean gleaning day at the market, the day we collect fresh market food for those who are less fortunate. Since our current safety protocols do not allow us to collect produce at the market, we ask that you please click the button below or go to our website at your leisure and click on the DONATE button there. 

See you at the Market!