Lovers of rye, unite! For those who think rye is just for monster pastrami sandwiches served to tourists at Carnegie Deli, think again. The versatile whole grain played the starring role in every dish of a dinner served in late September as part of the ongoing Rye Bread Project. The project was co-founded by Copenhagen-based chef and regional farming advocate Trine Hahnemann, and is part of a larger movement to reintroduce heritage rye grains to the northeastern U.S. It kicked off two years ago with a similar feast of traditional Nordic, rye-infused recipes. This time around, though, a significant new development was cause for celebration: the generous donation of 24 varieties of heritage rye seeds by the Norwegian-based Svalbard Global Seed Vault - a feat that took Trine these interim two years to accomplish. In the ceremonial capstone of the evening, Trine handed Greenmarket's Regional Grains Director June Russell a burlap satchel containing a symbolic handful of the seeds, grown by Danish farmers, which create a grain superior to the cover crop rye used in the U.S. A much larger donation of these seeds is en route to Agronomist Elizabeth Dyck of OGRIN, who will then distribute them to farmers in the region who will plant them as the beginning of a long-term testing process. What better way to celebrate the symbolic re-introduction of rye to our region than devouring it in a succulent array of forms! The lavish feast was hosted by New Amsterdam Market, and served to some of rye’s most devoted advocates in the market’s historic office at the South Street Seaport. Using local ingredients, Trine transformed the extraordinarily nutritious grain into rye flakes for a cauliflower gratin, pastry for a kale-pine nut tart, the nutty cooked whole grain in a butternut squash salad, and the crumble in a traditional Danish apple dessert featuring layers of homemade applesauce and whipped cream. Completing the table was of course the bread: Trine’s delectable rye focaccia, and the beloved Finnish Ruis bread -- a 100% whole grain, flat, round loaf that has been a fixture of Finnish life since time immemorial -- baked by Simo Kuusisto of Nordic Breads. June Russell, one of several speakers at the event, talked about how far the regional grain movement has come in spurring farmers to once again grow crops like heritage wheat, emmer and spelt -- mainstays in the region during pre-industrial days -- thanks to a growing market for these crops among chefs, bakers, millers, malters, and other grain-focused enterprises. Inexplicably, rye has lagged behind these other crops in the grain resurgence. Until now. With the continued success of the Regional Grains Project, the Rye Bread Project, and other exciting efforts promoting the regional food system, we can expect lots more meals like this in New York’s culinary future!

We're proud to announce the Harlem Pop-Up Greenmarket, New York City’s first nighttime farmers market! The market will take place on Thursday, October 11th from 4pm to 9pm at W. 117th St. and Frederick Douglass Blvd., and is brought to you by GrowNYC, the Frederick Douglas Boulevard Alliance, and Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer. Fresh and local fruits, vegetables, cheese, wine, flowers, baked goods, and prepared foods from neighborhood restaurants. Visitors will also enjoy live music, refreshments, and a pumpkin patch. Cash, credit/debit, EBT/SNAP benefits accepted. EBT/SNAP benefit customers will receive an extra $2 Health Buck voucher for every $5 spent. Harlem Pop-Up Greenmarket Thursday, October 11, 4 – 9 p.m. W. 117th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard [map] (on the same site as the Treasure Chest Flea Market)

Greenmarket Producers:

King Ferry Winery – Wine by the glass from Cayuga County, New York Valley Shepherd Creamery – Sheep’s milk cheese, yogurt and gelato from Morris County, New Jersey Hot Bread Kitchen – Multi-ethnic artisan breads and tortillas from New York County, New York Breezy Hill Orchard – Pears, apples, cider and baked goods from Dutchess County, New York Glebocki Farm – Vegetables from Orange County, New York Ronnybrook Dairy Farm – Milk, yogurt, butter and ice cream from Columbia County, New York Nolasco’s Farm – Vegetables, Mexican specialty produce and herbs from Warren County, New Jersey Andrew’s Local Honey – Honey and honey products from Fairfield County, Connecticut Pumpkin Patch sale provided by Nolasco’s Farm.

Harlem Establishments Providing Prepared Foods and Flowers:

Franz James Floral Harlem Shambles Lido 5 and Diamond Harlem Tavern Zoma

As part of World Green Building Week 2012, Greenmarket and Tishman Speyer will open a pop-up Greenmarket this Tuesday, September 18th, through Thursday, September 20th at 375 Hudson Street in downtown Manhattan. The 3-day market will be home to regionally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, flowers and baked goods. Access is free and open to the public. One Week Only! Hudson & West Houston St, Manhattan 8am - 5pm Tuesday, September 18 Wednesday, September 19 Thursday, September 20

Farms Attending

Tuesday Migliorelli Farm Vegetables and orchard fruit from Dutchess County, NY Red Jacket Orchards Orchard and small fruit, juices, and preserves from Ontario County, NY Nordic Breads Whole grain rye bread from New York, NY Millport Dairy Cheddar cheese, eggs and meat from Lancaster County, PA Wednesday Migliorelli Farm Vegetables and orchard fruit from Dutchess County, NY Red Jacket Orchards Orchard and small fruit, juices, and preserves from Ontario County, NY Nordic Breads Whole grain rye bread from New York, NY Millport Dairy Cheddar cheese, eggs and meat from Lancaster County, PA Paumanok Vineyards Wine from Suffolk County, NY Katchkie Farm Certified Organic vegetables and value added products from Columbia County, NY Binder Farm Plants from Suffolk County, NY Thursday Red Jacket Orchards Orchard and small fruit, juices, and preserves from Ontario County, NY Nordic Breads Whole grain rye bread from New York, NY Millport Dairy Cheddar cheese, eggs and meat from Lancaster County, PA Paumanok Vineyards Wine from Suffolk County, NY Beth’s Farm Kitchen Jams, preserves, chutneys, and pickled vegetables from Columbia County, NY  

Come see two culinary cornerstones of the East Village in the hot seat at Tompkins Square Greenmarket on September 9th, as Veselka Bowery and Hearth Restaurant / Terroir Wine Bar face off to claim the title of Iron Chef. Each chef will have just an hour to transform a "mystery basket" of market ingredients into a delicious dish.  Traven Rice of The Lo-Down blog and an esteemed panel of judges will crown a winner, and limited samples will be available to the public. Sunday, Sept 9 1-4pm Tompkins Square Greenmarket 7th St at Avenue A Veselka Bowery is an East Village institution, begun in 1954 as a small candy store and newsstand and quickly taking over the neighboring steak luncheonette. It began with a small following of people looking for inexpensive homemade authentic Eastern European food in an underground atmosphere and today offers an extensive menu that features homemade Ukrainian foods along with traditional American diner fare and an eclectic mix of daily specials. http://www.veselka.com/bowery/ Hearth Restaurant & Terroir Wine Bar are both located in Manhattan's East Village. Their food is rooted in the modern traditions of the American kitchen with influences from their Italian heritage. Most important to Hearth is their expression of hospitality. The hearth is the home and they take this sentiment to heart, aspiring in all manner of ways to exceed expectations.  http://www.restauranthearth.com/

Get ready for the inaugural Greenmarket Sandwich Smackdown! This fun, kid-friendly event hosted by the Greenmarket Youth Education Project, will take place on Saturday, September 8th at the Union Square Greenmarket, and will be an opportunity for kids ages 6 to 14 years old to show off their sandwich making skills and love for local food! Teams of kids and adults will be working together to shop for local ingredients at the Union Square Greenmarket to create the ultimate market-inspired snack. Kids and adults interested in forming a team to represent an organization, company or individual group can sign up here. View the flyer:

Greenmarket and GreeNYC will be promoting reusable bags with GreeNYC mascot Birdie at the Union Square Greenmarket at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 8. Stop by to meet Birdie and make a pledge to reduce the use of plastic. Birdie will reward individuals who pledge to make a difference with a reusable tote bag, perfect for stocking up on local produce. More: New Yorkers consume more than 5 billion plastic bags each year. Plastic bags litter our neighborhoods, depletes global natural resources and contribute to carbon emissions and climate change. Littered plastic bags can easily make their way to storm drains and then into our waterways. GreeNYC is the public education arm of PlaNYC, Mayor Bloomberg’s plan for a greener, greater NYC. GreeNYC works to educate, engage, and mobilize New Yorkers to rise to the challenges of reducing their energy use, living a more sustainable lifestyle, and shrinking the citywide carbon footprint--actions that are critical to achieving the overall PlaNYC goal of reducing NYC’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030 and improving the quality of the city’s environment. View the event flyer.

On June 27, at our annual benefit, Taste of Greenmarket, we honored Women in Agriculture for their contributions to the Greenmarket community and the sustainable agriculture community at large. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, chef Mary Cleaver of the Green Table, and Diane Eggert, director and founder of the Farmers Market Federation of New York, as well as GrowNYC Executive Director Marcel Van Ooyen, Chairman of the Board Bob Kafin and Greenmarket Director Michael Hurwitz, addressed our 80 women farmer honorees, thanking them for their work in the field and the example they set for the next generation of agricultural producers. The room buzzed with Greenmarket farmers, steadfast supporters, and over two dozen chefs and mixologists from around the city who build their menus around the seasonal availability of local products in the market. A dizzying array of dishes featured Grazin’ Angus Acres short ribs, tri-star strawberries from Berried Treasures, Bobolink Dairy cheese, and many other products grown right here in our region by Greenmarket farmers. Many thanks to the guests, honorees, producers, chefs, mixologists, donors and sponsors who made the fifth annual Taste of Greenmarket a screaming success! All proceeds will benefit Greenmarket's Youth Education Project, which provides school tours of markets, meet your farmer classroom visits, and implementation of our Seed to Plate curriculum. Photo booth photos: Event photos:

Join local chefs, jammers, picklers, cookbook authors, and canning experts and enthusiasts as they demonstrate how to preserve the summer harvest by putting up what’s fresh now for enjoyment later in the year. Learn at-home canning techniques and get ready to enjoy the seasonal harvest year-round. All demonstrations are free and open to the public and include a free raffle to win an at-home canning kit. Friday, July 20: 97th Street Greenmarket Canning demonstration with chef and culinary educator, Robin Puskas. 10am - 1pm Saturday, July 21: Socrates Sculpture Park Greenmarket Canning demonstration with chef and culinary educator, Robin Puskas. 10am - 1pm Saturday, August 4: Union Square Greenmarket Canning demonstration and book signing with Laena McCarthy of Anarchy in a Jar. 10am - 1pm Sunday, August 12: 79th Street Greenmarket Canning demonstration with chef and culinary educator, Robin Puskas. 10am - 1pm Saturday, August 18: 82nd Street Greenmarket Canning demonstration with chef and culinary educator, Robin Puskas. 10am - 1pm Thursday, August 19: Columbia University Greenmarket Canning demonstration with chef and culinary educator, Robin Puskas. 10am - 1pm Wednesday, August 22: Dag Hammarskjold Greenmarket Canning demonstration with chef and culinary educator, Robin Puskas. 10am - 1pm Saturday, August 25: Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket Canning demonstration and book signing with Laena McCarthy of Anarchy in a Jar. 10am - 1pm Saturday, September 1: Tucker Square Greenmarket Canning demonstration with chef and culinary educator, Robin Puskas. 10am - 1pm Wednesday, September 5: Union Square Greenmarket Canning demonstration with chef and culinary educator, Robin Puskas. 10am - 1pm Saturday, September 8: Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket Pickling demonstration with Rick Field of Rick’s Picks. 10am - 1pm Wednesday, September 12: Union Square Greenmarket Canning demonstration with chef and culinary educator, Robin Puskas. 10am - 1pm Saturday, September 15: Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket Canning demonstration with chef and culinary educator, Robin Puskas. 10am - 1pm

In preparation for the 2012 Youthmarket season, GrowNYC brought together more than 50 young people from across the city to learn about food, agriculture, and the basics of running a farm stand. Incoming youth-staff read nutrition labels and took a  “Fast Food IQ Test” with David Saphire from our Learn It, Grow It, Eat It program and discussed inventory planning, outreach strategies, and small business math with experienced Youthmarket Managers. Youth also sampled the best of the season during a produce tasting that familiarized them with the products they’ll be selling, and they ended the day with a tour of the Union Square Greenmarket, where they chatted with farmers, saw different ways of creating attractive product displays, and learned the secret to keeping vegetables looking fresh on hot summer days. GrowNYC’s 11 Youthmarkets all open this week for the 2012 season, and all of them feature fresh produce grown by Greenmarket farmers. Teens identified by our community partner organizations learn valuable job skills and earn their own money while providing their friends, family, and neighbors with access to fresh, healthy, local foods. Visit our website to find a Youthmarket near you!