NYC’s Local Farmers' Green Market – Fresh from the Source, Fun to Explore!

Photos & Text byUnrestrained

These past few days, I’ve been thinking about where to head next, and for no particular reason, my mind wandered back to my trip to New York and Boston late last year. Suddenly, memories of the markets I visited came flooding back – I miss them so much that I decided to write about one of my favorite spots: the popular Greenmarket in downtown Manhattan. Located in Union Square, this market hosts numerous small local farmers selling their own fresh produce, flowers, and meats. It offers a tiny glimpse into the local way of life and has a wonderfully relaxed vibe – definitely worth a stroll!

The Greenmarket in Union Square, also known as the Farmers Market, is arguably the most famous and largest of the various farmers markets in New York.

▲ Union Square (highlighted in red) is surrounded by multiple subway stations and sits at the intersection of several major streets in NYC. The Greenmarket is located near E 17th Street.

This market is situated in the part of Union Square close to E 17th Street, with multiple subway lines intersecting nearby (refer to the transportation info above). It's easily accessible no matter which part of Manhattan you're coming from.

In fact, this area is very well-equipped. Aside from the market, the surrounding blocks feature a variety of shops, boutiques, and eateries – perfect for a leisurely walk. Within a five-minute stroll, you’ll find NYU’s campus, where you might catch impromptu student gatherings or performances. Not far away is Washington Square Park, another favorite spot of mine that I've visited many times. Come December, there’s also a Christmas market here. All in all, it’s a vibrant and diverse neighborhood!

Stepping into the market, you’ll find each vendor’s stall neatly arranged in a clean environment – no trash on the ground or the damp puddles commonly seen in traditional markets. The offerings are mainly vegetables and fruits, but you’ll also find flowers, meats, jams, prepared foods, and bread. Everything feels fresh and wholesome, with many stalls proudly labeling their goods as pesticide-free, antibiotic-free meats, or free from artificial additives.

Surrounding the market are numerous stalls selling handmade goods and artwork.

Some of the paintings appear to be mass-printed items, but there are also unique, one-of-a-kind pieces. For example, I really liked the style of the artwork at the stall shown below, though being one-of-a-kind, the prices are steep – out of my budget, so just window shopping for me.

Locals often come here to shop for groceries, walk their dogs, or simply take a stroll.

Now let’s take a look at what’s actually sold here.

Many prepared food stalls offer samples, and their displays are usually quite appealing!

The flower vendors’ stalls are always a feast for the eyes.

You’ll also find many types of fruits and vegetables that are rare in Taiwan. Most of the vegetables here are sold with roots and leaves still attached – talk about freshness!

I’m especially fond of their root vegetables, which look quite different from what you’d see in Taiwan. Paired with their lush green leafy tops, they’re simply adorable.

By early October in the U.S., you’ll gradually start seeing all kinds of pumpkins. After all, Halloween is just around the corner. Here, you can find many varieties of pumpkins, each with its own quirky shape – some look like warty toads, others are delightfully ugly in all sorts of twisted ways, and some are so huge you could hollow them out to make jack-o'-lanterns. It’s all really fun!

There are also plenty of fruits and vegetables that even I can’t name in Chinese. Take this Cranberry Bean, for instance – I’d never seen it in Taiwan before (am I just not well-traveled? *hides face*). It has such a unique appearance – I wonder what it tastes like.

Farmers selling beef, pork, and chicken are often on hand to explain the different types of meat available. Sometimes, these small-scale vendors even provide information about their farms and their farming or breeding methods, which makes buying their products feel a lot more reassuring.

A variety of homemade jams. The packaging is super charming, making them great gift ideas – though they can be a bit heavy...

In addition to fresh flowers, you’ll also find various bundles of dried flowers. The stall shown below specializes in dried blooms, though they were also selling fresh lavender at the time.

This is my favorite juice here – the selection is overwhelming, with options like strawberry, apple, orange, grape, various berry blends, and pear juices. Each color is just beautiful!

But do compare the prices – for example, the small jars at this stall are $2.5–$3 USD (yeah, not exactly cheap).

At the time, I bought the strawberry and grape juices (small jars, $2.5 each – yep, I just can’t resist juice), but then I spotted another apple juice stand nearby where the small jars were only $1.75, so I immediately bought one of those too. Both stands claim their juices are 100% pure, with no added water. Just the pricing varies.

There’s also a great variety of fruits. Since I’d bought some super sweet and cheap large green grapes at a supermarket near my Airbnb just two days prior, I was curious to try the smaller green ones here – but they turned out a bit sour!

Verdict: the big green grapes win hands down. If you’re in the U.S., you’ve got to try these affordable and delicious fruits.

The small peaches and plums are pretty tasty too. I bought a basket to give to my Airbnb host as a thank-you – the night before, we’d arrived quite late (around 9 PM, not that late, really), hadn’t had dinner yet, and most shops in the neighborhood were already closed. Our kind host offered us pasta for dinner (so touching!), so I wanted to return the favor (and yes, I actually gave them some plums).

There are also stalls promoting and selling all-natural fabrics, boasting that their materials, dyes, and production methods are eco-friendly and free from synthetic additives.

Scenery around the market

If you’re tired from exploring, you can buy some fruits, bread, or prepared foods from the market and enjoy them on the benches in Union Square. Alternatively, you can pick one of the many nearby eateries to relax and have a proper meal. The sun was high that day, and although it was already autumn—with temperatures ranging between 10–15°C in the morning and evening—the mercury still climbed over 25°C at noon. The temperature difference was quite large, and all I wanted was a shady spot to eat and drink. Right across from Union Square, I spotted this place called “Republic Noodle Bar.” It mainly serves noodles from various Asian countries. Although I hadn’t been abroad for long, after several days without a taste of home, seeing Asian cuisine felt especially comforting.

So I walked in without hesitation.

The interior was quite spacious and the atmosphere was comfortable. My companion and I each ordered a bowl—one of curry chicken noodles and the other of Thai-style seafood fried noodles.

Since the curry chicken noodles weren’t mine, I only took a sip of the broth and a bite of the noodles. From what I remember, the soup was quite rich, mildly spicy, and full of curry flavor, though the noodles were a bit soft.

But my own Thai-style fried noodles deserve a special shout-out—they were delicious, reminiscent of the taste I’d had in Thailand. The slightly sweet seasoning was also very Thai. As for the ingredients, they didn’t skimp at all—plenty of vegetables, eggs, fresh basil, and crispy shrimp.

It was a huge portion, and the flavors made me nostalgic for my trip to Thailand while I was in New York, USA. What a strange sight that was.

With my stomach full, I headed off to the next destination.

Information about the Union Square “Greenmarket”
Business hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Address: E 17th St & Union Square W, New York
Transportation: Take the Gray Line (L), Orange Line (N, Q, R, W), or Green Line (4, 5, 6) and get off at the 14th St.-Union Sq. station.
Official website

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