Slideshow: Farmers Market on Peconic Riverfront makes its debut

The new Farmer’s Market along the historic Peconic Riverfront sponsored by the Riverhead Business Improvement District took its first baby steps Saturday morning.

There were six vendors who set up their booths on the grassy picnic area under the trees along the boardwalk. BID president Ray Pickersgill said that many of the vendors who initially had said they would be there had conflicts with graduations scheduled for Saturday.

Eileen Danowski, who lives near downtown Riverhead, looked over the offerings at the Blue Duck Bakery table and settled on a chocolate filled pastry for a snack.

“I think it is very convenient. It is five minutes from my house and it’s all fresh. I wish there were some vegetables but I hope in time it will grow. It is nice to come down here and have no middleman; that way it will be all profit for them. I say that being a farmer’s daughter.”

Blue Duck Bakery account manager Chris McNally said that the company, which has retail shops in Southold and in Southampton, should open a store on East Main Street by the end of July. On Saturday, he was selling a wide array of baguettes, European rye breads, olive, cranberry walnut breads and ciabattas as well as pies and pastries. The bakery delivers seven days a week from Montauk to Manhattan and is at nine farmers markets on Long Island.

Mr. Pickersgill said that the new riverfront market will run Saturday’s from 9 a.m. to 4:30 rain or shine.

The market also features arts and crafts made by locals across Long Island, he said. The market will feature the agricultural bounty of the North Fork including vegetables, fruit, produce, meats, cheeses, eggs “and any other produce you can think of grown in our special, rural community,” he added.

The market is located on the Peconic behind the stores on Main Street. There is  free parking off Peconic and Main Streets next the the market and admission is free.

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