The Hayground Farmer’s Market on Mitchell Lane in Bridgehampton, NY is one of the most family oriented farm stands in the Hamptons. Grown by local farmers, and a stand of produce grown by schoolchildren from the Hamptons, it has a great variety of both produce and non-traditional market goods. Seedlings, wine, cheese, fish, baked goods, olive oil, ice cream and sorbet, dog treats, pizza, and much more are all available at the Hayground Market. Specialities also include sweet corn, string beans, vine ripened tomatoes, berries, peaches, fresh eggs, and peppers of all colors and sizes. A community effort, the Hayground Market encourages schools to work as a team to yield organic, locally raised crops and to support the hard working farmers that allow for this to be possible. It’s a family affair for sure, as many of these farms are still owned by the original families who established them generations ago. By buying at your local farmer’s market instead of a grocery store, you get to carefully select exactly what you’d like on your dinner plate instead of purchasing a factory sealed bag of randomly chosen produce. You can even meet the people who grew your food and ask for preparation and storage tips. By supporting the farmers you help keep the traditional farm-based economy of Long Island alive. It’s a Hamptons tradition every summer to visit farm stands, and the Hayground Market should be at the top of your list.
Every Friday from 3pm to 6:30pm you can visit the Hayground Market to stock up on the freshest produce in Bridgehampton, chat with neighbors, and teach your children the importance of healthy, balanced diets and why it’s good to know where your food comes from. Running from Memorial Day weekend thru September, make it a weekly habit on your way home from the beach or work to pick up ripe fruit and vegetables, a homemade loaf of bread, and a bottle of locally grown wine. A treat you must try is their Josephine’s Feast jam, namely the Blushing Pink Grapefruit Marmalade, a favorite of mine and many others.
