Farmers’ Market to open at Hendrickson Park

When village officials first brought up the idea of having a farmers’ market in Valley Stream a few months ago, Assistant Recreation Superintendent Mike Pellegrino decided to be proactive and call Rockville Centre officials about their market. That was how he found out about the Long Island Growers Market, LLC.

The Growers Market was founded 30 years ago by Ethel Terry, the owner of Orient Point-based Fred Terry and Son Farms. At the time, she said, the farm was struggling to survive, and to save it she knew she would have to sell her produce first-hand. In 1989, her first farmers’ market opened in Islip.

Now, Terry manages nine farmers’ markets in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and her newest will open on June 13 at the Arthur J. Hendrickson Park parking lot in Valley Stream, which Terry said was an “ideal location” for the 16 vendors she has registered to sell their fresh-made doughnuts, seafood, fruits, vegetables, ice cream, pies and soaps.

All of the products that will be sold there must be made, caught or grown by the vendor, according to Terry’s policy. She also verifies that the vendors are licensed, and makes each vendor show her their invoices to prove that they make their own products. “She has pretty strict standards,” Pellegrino said.

But, Terry said the end result is worth it. “The customers are going to be surprised,” she said. “The quality is going to be the best they could get.”

And even those on food assistance programs could take advantage of the farmers’ market, which will accept Women, Infants and Children Program and Nutrition Program for Seniors coupons.

All of the money raised, Terry said, will benefit local businesses and farms. “We’re in extinction right now,” she said, “there’s not much left.”

The market will be open at the parking lot every Thursday morning until from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. until Nov. 21, regardless of rain.