FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM MAY 27, 2021 • SUMMER FUN • THE QUEENS COURIER 43
summer fun
Laurelton Farmers Market launches its second season
of bringing fresh produce to SE Queens neighborhood
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e Laurelton Farmers Market offi cially
launched its second season on Saturday, May
15, in collaboration with the Long Island
Rail Road (LIRR), to bring fresh produce
and homemade items to the community.
Launched in summer 2020, Laurelton
Farmers Market — located at 225th
Street and 141st Road — became the
fi rst-ever Black-owned farmers market in
the southeast Queens neighborhood of
Laurelton. Th is year, the market returns to
the LIRR Laurelton Station on Saturdays
and Sundays from May 15 through Nov.
7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In partnership with the LIRR, Laurelton
Farmers Market’s parent organization,
Chae Corp Sovereign Markets, aims to
provide food sovereignty in communities
impacted by food inequity with a focus
on green and sustainable living while elevating
mostly M/WBE-owned farms, vendors
and local artists.
“Th e fl agship Laurelton Farmers Market
at the Laurelton LIRR, and its immediate
success in one short season, has proven
itself to be both an essential and beautiful
space where community grows,”
said Dianna Rose, founder of Laurelton
Farmers Market. “Our partnership with
the Long Island Rail Road is a powerful and
fruitful one, as we get ready to launch the
St. Albans Farmers Market at the St. Albans
LIRR Station, providing better access to
farm-fresh produce and artisanal goods!”
Farmers Market vendors include, but
are not limited to, Prince Abou’s Butchery
(winner of the 2021 Queens Economic
Development Corporation’s Queens
StartUp! competition), Th e Campaign
Against Hunger, Jars of Delight, Adamah
Gallery Seafood and Blaque Resource
Network. Th e vendors will off er customers
fresh produce and meats, as well
as other food items, home and garden
items, homemade soaps, body butters and
scrubs, among other items.
Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers
said the Laurelton Farmer’s Market has
one of the best things for the community
as they continue to work collaboratively
to address the growing food insecurity
and lack of access to healthy food options.
“Th is annual resource not only promotes
healthy foods, but it creates economic
opportunity for businesses that
have been devastated in some instances
by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Brooks-
Powers said. “Th is year’s kickoff was a tremendous
success, where we saw visitors
from near and far supporting our local
vendors — many of which are minority
and women-owned business enterprises.
I congratulate the LFM’s founder, Ms.
Dianna Rose, and look forward to seeing
this event continue to grow.”
Grand openings for Chae Corp’s new
St. Albans Farmers Market and Queens
Village Farmers Market are planned to
be announced at a later date. Th e Chae
Corp Sovereign Markets are a collaboration
with the LIRR, which have permitted
the markets to be held at respective LIRR
Station commuter parking spaces.
“This year’s kickoff was a tremendous success,
where we saw visitors from near and far
supporting our local vendors — many of which
are minority and women-owned business
enterprises.”
— Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers
Photos courtesy of Laurelton Farmers Market
Launched in summer 2020, Laurelton Farmers Market, located at 225th Street and 141st Road, became the fi rst-ever Black-owned farmers market in
the southeast Queens neighborhood of Laurelton.
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