RVC Farmers Market businesses carry on

The Rockville Centre Farmers Market continues on each Sunday from 7 a.m. to noon from June 6 all the way to December 26. The past year and a half have not been easy for businesses at the market, they have seen patrons return steadily.

Dozens of vendors from across Long Island set up tents and stands in parking lot No. 12 along Sunrise Highway across from Bigelow’s seafood restaurant. Even on a rainy August morning, residents showed up to browse the assortment of businesses attached to the market.

Nikicia Blagrove and her daughters Jahasia and Nyla make fresh, homemade pies from the family’s southern recipes. A Uniondale resident, Blagrove has been making pies since 2009 and picked up the hobby as a military wife at U.S. Army Fort Riley, Kansas. “We make fresh, homemade baked pies,” Blagrove said. “Everything is from scratch; nothing comes from a can or jar. We use only the finest, freshest ingredients.”

Blagrove has been coming to the RVC market since 2011 with a break in between when her family moved to Germany for her husband Samuel’s military assignment. But when the family moved back to Uniondale in 2018, they resumed their work.

During the pandemic, the Blagroves have shifted to shipping out and delivering orders. Blagrove said that orders have come in steadily, with weddings being an especially popular source of revenue.

Stephanie Millien, owner of the AJW Comfort Cake Company, managed her tent the rainy morning of August 8. AJW sells alcohol-enhances cakes, the recipes for which have been passed down from Millien’s mother.

The company was created during the pandemic in October of 2020. Millien and her company debuted at the RVC market in June of this year. “I think people still want to have a reason to come out,” Millien said. And as long as you’re following proper safety protocol, customers have been really receptive.”

Millien’s mother’s “Comfort cake” is characterized by a smooth caramel taste. Millien started to test out other liquors, coming up with a Piña Colada cake based off of her favorite summer drink, and now has 11 original recipes. Once she hits 20 recipes, Millien says she plans on making a cookbook. Millien has an apple moonshine cake recipe planned for the winter.

“I’ve learned a lot through the market experience,” Millien said. “I just want to work my way from here and maybe have a brick and mortar shop or a food truck in the future.”

Tim Warner, owner of Orient-based Fred Terry and Sons Farms, has been selling fresh fruit and vegetables at the market since it was created 17 years ago. Warners’ works with the Long Island Growers Market, LLC. which manages markets in Roslyn, Seaford, Valley Stream, Islip, Patchogue, and Huntington, too.

“It’s a beautiful market and our customers have really warmed up to us,” Warner said. “It feels like a family. Every week you build up a rapport with everyone.”

During the pandemic, Warner said the biggest challenge has been changing some routines of the stand, including limiting patrons touching the fruits and vegetables. Residents have an extra month to visit the market this year, as it has been extended to December 26.