6 Greenmarket Gifts For Mother's Day 2016
This year, Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8. Don't fret about what to get! Instead, head to your local greenmarket, and pick up something unique and locally made/grown. Here are some suggestions sure to please the mom in your life. By Jessica Allen.
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Hot Bread Kitchen serves up yummy products with a heaping helping of doing good on the side. Indeed, this nonprofit social enterprise assists minority, immigrant, and low-income individuals by working to get them involved in the city's culinary industry. On average, HBK bakes 75+ multi-ethnic breads, inspired by people in the program. No preservatives, no artificial flavors, no gross stuff. Just delicious tortillas, flatbreads, babka and challahs, among others.
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New York produces some of the freshest, tastiest apples around, so it stands to reason that our cider is pretty awesome too. And it is! The Wilklows have grown apples in the Hudson Valley for going on six generations, but Albert Wilklow partnered with a childhood friend to start Bad Seed just a few years ago. Everything—from the signature hard version to the tart, dry Belgian Abbey to the thoughtfully aged Bourbon Barrel Reserve blend—is handcrafted in small batches, and comes in cool-looking bottles or cans. Cheers, Mom!
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It wouldn't be Mother's Day without flowers, and greenmarkets all over town have flowers galore. But we'll be buying ours at Fiori di Fenice. We especially love the farm's lilies and tulips, each one more colorful and exuberant than the last. Check out the Facebook page for info about what's coming to Union Square this weekend, then get there early, before the flowers are all gone.
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A greenmarket institution, Andrew's Local Honey sells honey made by bees in the Tri-state area, specifically Connecticut, upstate New York, and in NYC's outer boroughs. Local varietals include "Central Park" honey, "Bed Stuy" honey, "Da Bronx" honey, and "Forest Hills" honey. Great in tea, better straight from the jar.
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Lucky for you, and your mom, you can find Wood Homestead's products at several greenmarkets, including Union Square, Grand Army Plaza, and Inwood. For more than 25 years, the family behind Wood Homestead has specialized in the fine art of making maple syrup. You can get the good stuff by the bottle, then drizzle it on ice cream, waffles, bacon, etc., or you can spring for such goodies as maple lollipops, maple cotton candy, and, our personal favorite -- maple caramel popcorn.
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If your mom has a green thumb -- or wants one -- consider a gift from the Hudson Valley Seed Library. Since 2004, the Seed Library has sourced and sold open-pollinated and heirloom seeds for herbs, flowers, and vegetables. All seeds come from local or regional farmers,-- including the library's very own organic farm upstate in Accord -- or from wholesale seed houses that don't do business with biotech companies. Each pack comes decorated with a unique work of art—so you can go ahead and skip the wrapping.
