(Pics) “Michael Pollan Made This All Possible”

New Amsterdam Market has re-opened for 2010. The fresh food fair featuring local, artisanal producers and farmers was packed when we visited it for a follow up to our trips there last year. New Amsterdam Market takes place on South Street in Lower Manhattan, between Beekman Street & Peck Slip. The location is at the old Fulton Fish Market New Market Building which was opened in 1939 although there have been public markets in this area since 1642. The founders have been inspired by the resurgence of interest in local markets including London’s Borough Market and say on their site:

“New Amsterdam Market will incubate a new and growing business sector: purveyors who source food directly from farmers and producers whom they trust to be good stewards of our land and waters…. New Amsterdam Market will be accessible to all, striving to diminish the economic, social, and educational impediments to sound nutrition.”

As we walked through the market we met a woman behind a stand who had been a farmer for thirty years. She was excited by the crowds of shoppers and tourists. Almost teary eyed, she exclaimed:

“Michael Pollan made this all possible! Without him no one would be here.”

New Amsterdam Market will be open each Sunday until December near South Street Seaport, New York. New Amsterdam Market