On what was an eerily warm late October morning–is this global warming??–the Greenmarket at 97th Street was bustling. There were bright red radishes, light green persimmons, apples galore, glistening fish from the Bridgehampton fish guy, and all manner of produce, cheese, and other yummy local goodies.

So, I was a bit surprised when I asked the woman standing at the Greenmarket table why local farmers couldn’t set up more than once a week, and she replied, “It will never happen.” Why? Apparently, because the neighborhood isn’t too thrilled about all those trucks parked on the street.

That’s too bad. For one, the greenmarket provides a great teaching moment. Witness the possees of little kids from the local elementary school shouting out “yellow” when a teacher, holding up a plump pepper, demanded to know its color. The kids were clearly having a great time–and learning a thing or two about food and nutrition along the way.

Locally-grown food needs to be more widely distributed. Right now, the greenmarket is virtually the only souce in the city. If the city is really behind better nutrition, then officials need to do more than ban trans fats.

It would be great if demand drove the number of Greenmarket visits and not local politics.

Related posts:

1. Upper West Side: 97th Street Greenmarket
2. Upper West Side: 97th Street Greenmarket to Lose Organic Grain Seller
3. Upper West Side: 77th Street Greenmarket Expands