The Union Square Greenmarket
The flagship market of GrowNYC's Greenmarket system, running year-round on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays in Union Square Park. Dozens of regional farms sell produce, meat, dairy, baked goods, flowers, and preserves directly — no middleman, seasonal by definition, and a genuine window into what's actually growing in the region around New York at any given time of year. Saturday mornings are busiest; weekday mornings are calmer and just as good.
How the Greenmarket system works
GrowNYC operates dozens of markets across all five boroughs, each with its own schedule and roster of vendors — smaller neighborhood markets typically run once a week, seasonally (spring through fall), while a handful of the larger ones (including Union Square) run year-round. Vendors are required to sell only what they grow or produce themselves — this isn't a resale market, which is part of why the quality is consistently high.
Other notable markets
Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn — a large Saturday market at the entrance to Prospect Park. Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn — a well-regarded Saturday market in a genuinely pleasant park setting. Tucker Square, Upper West Side — convenient for anyone staying near Lincoln Center or the American Museum of Natural History.
What to actually buy
Whatever's in season — that's the entire point of a farmers market, and New York's markets are genuinely seasonal in a way most city grocery stores aren't. Apples and cider in fall, ramps and asparagus in early spring, tomatoes and stone fruit in summer. Baked goods and cheese vendors are consistent year-round and worth seeking out specifically — several have built serious reputations within the city's food scene.