This week on Food For Thought, meet the man who helped put farmers and their produce back in the cities of North America. Barry Benepe co-founded the Greenmarket program in New York City, and was just awarded the first Jane Jacobs Medal for Lifetime Leadership. To listen to my stroll through New York’s Union Square Green Market with Barry, click here for the 6-minute documentary.
In New York City, farmers markets had all but disappeared by the 1930’S.
Fast forward 40 years. Barry Benepee and another man, Bob Lewis, found it hard to believe they couldn’t easily buy New York State produce in New York City. And the city was looking for help to rescue Union Square. So, the Greenmarket system was born.
It wasn’t that easy. The Union Square market took about four years to really take off. Other markets have opened then closed, and there were always the not-in-my-backyard people.
This market is clearly a success. All around the square are farmers and food producers doing a brisk business with the best of the season. The customers get to know the farmers and their produce, the farmers make a much better living than if they had to involve a middleman.
Ironically, the relationship between Barry Benepe and the late Jane Jacobs, the urban visionary Barry’s award is named after, was not always so sweet. Although Jacobs lived in Toronto for most of the last years in her life, in the past she and Barry clashed on a particular Manhattan urban renewal project.
He does admire the work of Jane Jacobs, though, and feels that she would appreciate the vitality the green market system has brought to New York City, and far beyond. Since I moved to Vancouver about 12 years ago, I have seen four seasonal farmers markets spring up, and this year there will even be an indoor winter market every other week. If you have a farmers market in your urban community, make sure you visit. It’s good for the farmers, good for your health, and the health of your city.
