Farm Stands and Farmers Markets
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Farm Stands
Frills of lettuce, tender asparagus and just-picked peas signal the start of Long Island's farm-stand season. Sweet local strawberries follow, and by the Fourth of July, there will be succulent corn-on-the-cob and a little later, plump tomatoes and lush peaches. Finally, when fall's tang is in the air, mounds of golden squash, orange pumpkins and rosy apples adorn the roadsides.
On the South Fork, the Halseys have farmed in Water Mill for generations and the maddeningly slow traffic along Route 27 might be reason enough to take a refreshing vegetable break at their stand, The Green Thumb.
On the North Fork, look for many varieties of juicy, old-timey tomatoes at Garden of Eve, on Sound Avenue west of Northville Turnpike. Wickham's Fruit Farm on the Main Road in Cutchogue (closed Sundays, the day of rest) is outstanding for fruit, fruit pies and raspberry jam.
Harbes Family Farms, on Rt. 48 in Mattituck and other locations, is known for its sweet corn, which comes with a guarantee: keep it in the fridge, eat within 24 hours, return if not satisfied. Pumpkin Patch on Long Island Avenue in Yaphank, is handily just north of the LIE at Exit 66 and offers red peppers roasted on the premises.
Farmers Markets
A more convenient, if less picturesque, alternative to shopping at a bona fide farmstand is to avail yourself of one of the many farmers' markets on Long Island. These once-a-week markets, usually located in a town parking lot, offer farm-fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as plants, preserves, baked goods and other foodstuffs.
Long Island Growers Markets organizes and maintains nine farmers markets in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
NASSAU
Hempstead: Christ First Presbyterian Church, across from village police department. Fridays 7 am to 12 pm
Lynbrook: Corner of Sunrise Highway and Forest Avenue, in railroad parking lot. Sundays 8 am to 1 pm
Locut Valley: Forest Avenue downtown, across from post ofice. Saturdays 8 am to 1 pm
New Hyde Park: Long Island Jewish Hospital,400 Lakeville Road. Wednesdays 8 am to 1 pm
SUFFOLK
Islip: Town Hall parking lot, Montauk Highway. Saturdays 7 am to 12 pm
Huntington: Elm Street parking lot, Route 25A downtown. Sundays 7 am to 12 pm
Patchogue: 7-11 parking lot, Montauk Highway and Route 112. Fridays 8 am to 1 pm
Port Jefferson: Town parking lot, next to ferry. Thursdays 11 am to 4 pm
Riverhead: Parking lot behind Swezey's, next to Peconic River Boat. Thursdays 11 am to 4 pm
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