Merrick Avenue

Eating fresh on Merrick Avenue

& in Eisenhower Park

With an East Meadow Farm on Merrick Avenue and farmers market in Eisenhower Park, the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County has committed itself to making local agriculture and fresh food available to everyone.

The cooperative extension prioritizes the sale of goods produced by locals all over Long Island. The farmers market is open every Saturday through the end of October in Eisenhower Park field 8. The market is a part of the cooperative extension's food systems and agriculture “pillar,” which is just one aspect of what the organization does overall. The big picture is that Cornell has a cooperative extension office in each New York county as well as the five boroughs of New York City, totaling more than 50 offices statewide.

Nassau's cooperative extension was established in 1914, and always had a farm stand. The farm stand was moved to Eisenhower Park in 2020. “There were a couple of guests vendors, and it

Katrina O’Brien/Herald photos Top: The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau hosts its farmers markets on Saturdays in Eisenhower Park. Fresh produce is available from numerous vendors across Long Island.

Bottom: Taste NY, another part of the cooperative extension, sells goods from vendors all over Long Island. They have a market located in the Long Island Welcome Center off of the Long Island Expressway.

was small, but it was a great way to get in touch with the community,” said Jennifer Hochuli, the food systems/ agriculture coordinator.

Greg Sandor, the Nassau cooperative extension's executive director, said one of the needs in Nassau is to build a local sustainable food system. “In Eisenhower Park, we’re trying to create more access to freshgrown produce,” he said. “Eisenhower Park has high visibility, and you’ve got all different walks of life coming around here on weekends.”

The farmers market accepts cash, credit and debit cards, along with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cards and coupons from those who are a part of the Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

“Everybody should have access to fresh food, it’s so good for you and your body,” Hochuli said. “Supporting locally grown food, locally grown produce, as well as local businesses, it’s good for the economy. It’s good for your area. And, at the end of the day, I like to think that it’ll come back and help you out.” — Mallory Wilson

Top: The farmers market is open to everyone and is just one of the pillars of Nassau's cooperative extension.

Middle: Schneider’s Farm, originally from Melville, is just one of the vendors seen at the farmers market.

Bottom: Access to fresh, locally grown produce is important and that is why Nassau's cooperative extension makes the farmers market accessible to anyone.