Youth-run farmers markets reopen in Westbury

The Community Connections Farmers Market has returned to Westbury this summer, offering two locations for fresh, Long Island-grown produce.

Community Connections of Long Island, a nonprofit organization, is operating the farmers market at its original location in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church at 212 Garden St. and a second market at Piazza Ernesto Strada at the corner of Post Avenue and Maple Avenue.

The farmers markets, open every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. through Oct. 30, follow a “youth market model” and are staffed by Westbury teens, some paid and some volunteer. The teens undergo several training sessions where they learn different areas of the market, the types of produce and proper handling.

​​The produce, which includes melons, gourds, lettuces, onions, scallions, beets, celery, potatoes and the best sellers, corn and apples, come from eight farms in eastern Long Island. 

Community Connections is once again collaborating with Nassau County Youth Services and the Village of Westbury on the farmers market project.

The mission of the Community Connections Farmers Market has always been to build up the local community, making fresh, affordable produce accessible to all people, offer a place to bring people together, train young people and provide them with job opportunities, while helping to preserve and support Long Island farms.