New Haven Independent

City Seed runs four Farmer’s Markets across the city and also educates about the importance of eating local, fresh foods. Wednesday was opening day at the market on Church Street across from the Green.

“The produce here is as fresh as you’re going to get and it tastes better,” explained McTiernan. “It was picked yesterday and hasn’t sat on a truck for 1,500 miles.” The strawberries are particularly red and appear to be fresh and not mushy.

In the past few years the organic and fresh food movement has gained a lot of momentum, said McTiernan. City Seed started with one market in 2004 and they now run four, evidence of the growing trend.

“It’s a sort of an awakening,” said McTiernan.

McTiernan recalled a story that made her realize that people do want to be closer to their food and to know where it comes from.

“A woman called me the other week and told me she saw on TV that some of our food comes from China and Chile, and she told me she was going to shop at the farmer’s market.”

“There are so many issues with food safety,” McTiernan said. “People are starting to wonder whether it’s a good idea to eat things from far away places.”

But for Denise Langdon who works in New Haven, it was for the fresh air. When asked why she was stopping by the market she said, “It gets me out of my office!”

These are garlic scapes, the stalk that grows out of the head of garlic. They are removed from the garlic in order to encourage the bulb to grow bigger. (Cook them like asparagus.)

Beyond the farmer’s market, City Seed also works with the Connecticut Children’s Museum and the New Haven Food Policy Council to educate and work in with the community.

The downtown market is on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Quinnipiac River Park in Fair Haven is on Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m., Edgewood Park is on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wooster Square is on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wooster Square was the first market City Seed started. The next three were started in collaboration with community groups. They were asked to work with JUNTA and GAVA in Fair Haven, the Westville Village Renaissance Alliance and the Town Green Special Services District.

What’s the best part about Farmer’s Markets? The food!

“The best meals make you feel good,” said McTiernan.

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