Currently, the Tarrytown farmers market is run by an outside, for-profit corporation. For 3 years, community volunteers have tried to work with this For-Profit to provide a bigger, more vibrant market to serve the diverse needs of our growing community. The volunteers added music, chef demos, free yoga, children's arts & crafts, and storytime. In addition, the volunteers partnered with other community organizations such as the Tarrytown Environmental Advisory Council, the YMCA, Third Friday, and Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners. 

In return, the For-Profit did not follow through on its promises to promote and expand the market.  They’ve made it difficult at almost every turn—resisting new ideas and suggested changes.

Not only has the For-Profit created a market that doesn't serve our residents, but our market has actually shrunk in vendor size, lacks any meaningful variety of goods and services, and is considered one of the smallest and least interesting markets in Westchester County. 

Many farmers markets in Westchester have had similar experiences. Several have gone independent and are all now thriving, locally-run markets.

We can do the same, but we need your help. 

Residents of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow have formed a nonprofit, Rivertowns Village Green (RVG), for the sole purpose of creating a new market- run by the community, for the community.  We envision more vendors, more variety, more prepared foods, more entertainment and more children’s activities - a unique community gathering for neighbors and families to enjoy.   Both Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow Village Boards support this group and its vision.  The Village of Tarrytown, which governs the farmers market in Patriots Park, has acknowledged that it wants its residents to run the market.

However, the For-Profit won't go away. It is binding the Village of Tarrytown to a 2006 contract that makes it the exclusive farmers market whether or not they're serving our community. It's time for a change.

By signing this petition, the 10591 community is sending the following message:

To the Village of Tarrytown:

- Our community calls on the Village to negotiate the For-Profit's withdrawal and to ensure that it no longer operates Tarrytown's farmers market.

- Our community wants our farmers market to be run by a local organization that has our community's best interests in mind. 

To the For-Profit:

- Our community strongly urges you to immediately release the Village of Tarrytown from the contract and discontinue operating a farmers market in our community.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Thank you for choosing to support this grassroots effort to bring a thriving, community-run farmers market to the Villages of Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow.