Hometown Happenings: Clarkstown’s Inaugural Farmer’s Market

BY GEORGE HOEHMANN

Supervisor, Town of Clarkstown

Nowadays, people have become more aware and in tune with where their food comes from and what we are putting in our bodies. Although Clarkstown is not the farmland it once was, we are fortunate enough to still be in a region that has access to good farmland and fresh produce.

It was a goal of mine to reserve a community space in order to facilitate a local farmers market where residents and nearby vendors can buy and sell face to face. That is why, beginning last week, the Town of Clarkstown will hold a weekly farmers’ market every, Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., until October 28. The new farmers’ market is the first in our area to be coordinated by a municipality and hosted on a historical landmark, the Traphagen property at 131 Germonds Road in West Nyack.

This farmers’ market not only highlights local and regional vendors, but solidifies Clarkstown’s leadership in the county as the number one place to do business. At the market, you can purchase fresh locally-grown flowers, vegetables, fruits, breads, jams, pickles, eggs, meat, chicken, honey, hot sauces and more.  So far, it’s been a huge success! The first two weekends of the market we saw 500 visitors each Saturday.

The Traphagen property includes the 1791 Vanderbilt-Budke House and the 1820 Traphagen House, and was recently added to the New York State Register of Historic Places. Anyone who knows me knows I love history. I grew up in West Nyack, not far from the Traphagen property, and I’ve been a longtime proponent to restore and renovate the houses and property to preserve our history for future generations. I worked with our state representatives to secure $500,000 in state grants to restore the Traphagen property that includes the Vanderbilt-Budke House.

Traphagen is the perfect setting to host a farmers’ market, giving our residents access to agricultural products and returning this unique and historic property to its roots as a farm. I can’t think of a better place to spend a Saturday morning. So please come to West Nyack, check out what the farmers’ market has to offer and take in the beauty of this historical gem right in the heart of Clarkstown. I’ll see you next Saturday.

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