Farmers Market Brings Opportunity To Local Businesses DYLAN ROSKOVENSKY

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For the past three years, the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Farmers Market at Eisenhower Park has been providing Nassau County residents an easy way to meet and purchase local goods from local vendors every week.

Jennifer Hochuli, who is the Master Gardener Volunteer Program Liaison and Food Systems/Agriculture Program Coordinator for the CCE, recently chatted with Nassau Illustrated News about the role of the market on one such Saturday afternoon.

“The farmers market is all based on our mission, which is essentially to promote healthy lifestyles among Nassau County residents. We want to help encourage people to eat and live healthily while also supporting local ... It’s all about showcasing what Long Island has to offer.”

Hochuli explained, “CCE has a farm in East Meadow, and for years we had a farmstand there, but it ended in 2019. In 2020, Nassau County approached CCE and asked us to make a farmers market.”

Some businesses have called the event home since the beginning, such as Favor Coffee Company. Founder Christina Chin talked about why she chose to stick with the market: “I’m here to connect with customers. Most of my business is done online so I don’t get to meet a lot of my customers.”

“I think it’s really great, especially if the businesses don’t have many other opportunities or do not have a brick and mortar. It’s great exposure and not a huge commitment,” said Chin.

Chin also noted the value she finds in this space as a small business-owner, a woman, and a member of a marginalized group. “It’s a one-person operation [and] I typically try to prioritize women producers. Sometimes I’ll offer coffees that are traceable back to a single woman producer. We also try to prioritize coffees that have more women integrated into the supply chain.”

The market isn’t just for those with a small business. Loretta White, of Loretta’s Sweets and Treats, started making baked goods during COVID and wanted to continue her hobby.

“I started baking a lot of baked goods during the pandemic. Everyone around me loved them so I wondered how I could get started with my little business. I didn’t really think of it as a business,” White said. “I just wanted to be outdoors at a farmers market ... This is my first time, [and] so far it’s been good. I think we turned a profit and it’s just good to be outdoors doing what you love.”

Hochuli also talked a bit about the process of becoming a vendor: “One of the most important questions on the application is how does your product support our mission. We’re looking for locally grown and locally made.”

She noted that CCE also finds vendors for the market through its work with TasteNY, a statewide certification program meant to bolster New York agriculture and access to local produce.

“It is a perfect location in so many different ways. It is the major park of Nassau County, so what better place to showcase

Long Island than here?” Hochuli added. “I tell vendors this too. When they ask me why they should become a vendor [here], I tell them ‘It’s a shoe-in’, it’s the most popular park in Nassau County.”