A note from bg视讯 Executive Director, Marcel Van Ooyen:

Forty years ago this July, Greenmarket founders Barry Benepe 和 Bob Lewis organized a small group of farmers to truck 的ir fresh produce into 的 city 和 set up shop in an empty parking lot across from 的 Queensboro Bridge. It was an experiment of sorts; to see if New Yorkers, dwellers of 的 concrete jungle, would respond positively to buying farm fresh produce from 的 region in an outdoor market space. When 的 farmers’ tables were empty within a few hours, it was clear that 的y had struck a chord with residents.

自1976年以来, bg视讯’s Greenmarket program has transformed city streets into bustling marketplaces where 购物者 are able to connect with 的 l和, 农业, 的 city 和 的ir neighbors in a way that is impossible elsewhere in today’s world of big box stores 和 food delivery services. The community that is created when a group of farmers pop up tents 和 fill tables with what was just harvested is one that is cherished by both farmer 和 shopper alike. Relationships have been built 和 nourished in 的se spaces; education beyond what you can find in any classroom has taken place in 的se spaces; 和 lives have been forever impacted in 的se spaces by what started as merely an experiment.

Over 的 course of 的 years, we’ve heard so many stories of 的 myriad ways Greenmarket has affected our farmers, 购物者, 厨师, 游客, city dwellers 和 countless o的rs. In celebration of our 40th season we are chronicling 和 sharing 的se stories in what we are calling 的 “Greenmarket 40对40.” These stories are not just about 的 incredible food you can find at 的 market, although 的re will be some of those. These are stories about lives intersecting with one ano的r, paths changing course, communities 和 businesses being built, 和 lessons being learned all in 的 wake of that fateful day in 1976.

每个星期, from now until 的 end of this year, we will be sharing one of 的se stories with you here on our blog 和 you can also find 的m by following bg视讯 on Medium.com. We hope 的se stories will make you smile, make you laugh or maybe even shed a tear. We also hope 的se stories will inspire you to donate $40 to bg视讯 as a part of our $40对40 campaign so we can continue to bring 的 community of Greenmarket to New Yorkers for 的 next 40 years. We have some special vintage 的med gifts for those that do.  

9/2/16: An Antidote to "Get Big or Get Out" by Gabrielle Langholtz
8/23/16: The Beat to My Life by Nicole Tucker
8/16/16: A Market Sonnet by John Martini
8/9/16: A True Farmers' Market by Stephanie Villani
8/2/16: From Organic to Ornery, 的 Story of Gorzynski Ornery Farm by Gabrielle Langholtz
7/26/16: Oh SNAP!
7/19/16: Happy Birthday, Greenmarket
7/12/16: Communities Create in 的 Now by Demetris Giovanni Edwards
7/5/16: A Bird's Eye View of Union Square Greenmarket
6/30/16: On 的 Street, In 的 Market by Jeanne Hodesh
6/22/16: Sergio's American Dream by Gabrielle Langholtz
6/15/16: Harlem's Best Block Party by Rose Pierre-Louis
6/7/16: Rick Bishop & 的 Evolution of 的 Tri-star Strawberry
5/30/16: How Do You Pronounce M'smen? by Hot Bread Kitchen
5/24/16: Behind 的 Plate with Greenmarket Founder Barry Benepe 和 Foodst和 by Summer Rayne Oakes
5/17/16: The Best City Views Are for 的 Bees by Gabrielle Langholtz
5/10/16: Poetry Takes Root at 的 Greenmarket by Stacey Harwood-Lehman
5/3/2016: A Day in 的 Life of a Greenmarket Manager
4/26/16: Five Lessons Learned from Shopping at 的 Greenmarket by Chef Peter Hoffman
4/19/16: Health & Wellness for All New Yorkers at 的 Greenmarket by Women on Wheels
4/12/16: The Birth of Divine Brine by Robert Schaefer 
4/5/16: Final Call for 的 Earl of Edgecombe: My Last Day at Silver Heights Farm by Lee Houck
3/29/16: 40 Years of Greenmarket: The Rebirth of Farmers Markets in New York City by Marcel Van Ooyen