Trying to get back to the farm

On a farm fresh day that featured a cool breeze, the Long Island Grower’s Market opened in the upper parking lot of Nassau County’s Grant Park in Hewlett, last Friday.

Louise Landau, who was born in Hewlett and now lives in Cedarhurst, found it funny that a farmer’s market would be placed across the street from the 4th Precinct as that land behind the police building was once a farm.

“I was very amused by the fact that a farmer’s market would be placed there,” said Landau, who called in her local historical observation to the Herald. She said her daughter now knows where to get fresh vegetables.

“Behind where the police station is, was a whole farm and in front, where the building is, was a red covered farm stand, where you could buy vegetables. It was so different then, it was country,” Landau added.

It’s difficult to get that country feeling as you walk on paved ground, but the market with its variety of vendors, offered patrons fresh farm vegetables and fruits from Terry’s Farm in Orient, fresh plants and flowers from Colorful Gardeners in Calverton, along with seafood, pasta, olive oil, wines from the North Fork, pickles, cheeses and pretzels.

For the first time among the now 12 active Long Island Grower’s Markets, there was a kosher vendor. Debra Fulton was representing Farmingdale-based Hahn’s Old Fashioned Cake Company.

The kosher coffee cakes are sold locally in stores and delis, said Fulton who has worked for Hahn’s for the past decade. “I know I’ll get good feedback if they eat it,” she said,“it’s a great product.”

For those who have dogs, there is “Life is Grruf” natural dog treats that are sold by Kimberly Loper of Center Moriches. Loper said she started baking and had her Black Labrador “Trooper” and had family and friends’ dogs also try the treats to tell her what works and what didn’t.

“It is really taking off,” she said as she continued to bag purchases. “We have a lot of repeat customers,” adding that one of her patrons drove out from New York City to Westhampton to buy the treats for his dog.

The Grower’s Market was brought to the community through the 4-year-old Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools Endowment Fund, an organization comprised of parents, teachers and alums. It seeks to fund projects that can become self-sustaining, while being a part of the district’s educational programs.

Education is another component of the Grower’s Market and the Rockville Centre-based Center for Science Teaching and Learning and Nassau County’s Cornell Cooperative will also be part of the market that will be open every Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. until Nov. 18.

“The idea is to show that science is everywhere,” said Ray Ann Havasy, the Center’s executive director, who said the programs presented are geared for students through high school.

While students from Ogden Elementary School had to find different vendors or items in the market, Hewlett Elementary School physical education teachers Paul Marquardt and Kelly Padavan bought some healthy items.

“The idea is to start going green,” said Marquardt who said he incorporates that into his teaching. “This is great for the community and it’s healthier,” Padavan said.