Business

Following winter success, Riverhead Farmers Market to head outdoors

Saturday was the last week the farmers market will be held indoors. (Credit: Tim Gannon)
Saturday was the last week the farmers market will be held indoors. (Credit: Tim Gannon)

The Riverhead Farmers Market has by most accounts been a huge success operating out of a vacant former downtown storefront in the winter months.

And now, farmers and sponsors of the market are hoping that the following it generated will follow the market outdoors starting next Saturday.

Today was the last day the weekly market will run out of the former Swezeys’s Furniture store site, where it’s been held every Saturday since Feb. 1.

Beginning next Saturday, May 24, and running through Nov. 1, the farmers market will be held outside, with the vendors located on the grass along the Peconic River in the downtown parking lot, according to Ray Pickersgill, the executive director of the Riverhead Business Improvement District, which runs the market.

“I’m predicting we’re going to have a large turnout” for the outdoor market, Mr. Pickersgill said. “I am advertising it as to biggest farmers market on the east end and I will make it the biggest farmers market. I’m trying to get at least 40 booths if I can.”

Linda Carey of Linda’s Baking Company has been a vendor at the market since mid-March and she’s already got an outside booth, selling her baked goods on the outdoor loading dock of the building.

“We love it here,” she said. “We’ve got a water view.”

She hasn’t committed to the outdoor market yet but said she’s leaning toward it.