Dan's Papers - July 25, 2008

It's a win-win situation concerning the reopening of the Farmer's Market on Route 27 in Amagansett. John Halsey, President of the Peconic Land Trust, explained that since the Trust is not in the business of running farmer's markets, he leased the space to Eli Zabar, who runs markets in New York City. Halsey said that Zabar "is committed to using local produce and products as much as possible."

Both Halsey and Lynn Ryan of the Town of East Hampton Supervisor's office predict the market will reopen the first week of August.

The question remains of what will become of the farmlands connected to the property, which was bought by Amagansett resident Margaret De Cuevas. De Cuevas sold the development rights to the Town of East Hampton, which used Community Preservation Funds for the purchase, but turned over approximately eight acres to the Peconic Land Trust to find a suitable way to manage the farming. "We are not sure how we are going to go about it just yet, but the lands will be farmed with the local produce being sold locally right there by Mr. Zabar. We are still in the exploratory stage of doing the right thing in the best way," said Halsey.

The Struk family had owned and operated the Amagansett Farmer's Market for 54 years until they decided to sell. Many are relieved that threats to publicly sell the market (if the town did not act) never materialized. It was the white-knight actions of De Cuevas and the $5.4 million she put up to purchase the land that kept this property from becoming anything other than what it has been. For now, it will not become a shopping center or a housing development. Instead, it will remain a farmer's market, and the surrounding land will remain farmland for many years.

With Zabar's lease just three years long, the Peconic Land Trust feels that it is not taking a chance. "Eli Zabar has a reputation for buying quality local produce and shipping it into his New York City markets. Now he will provide the same high-quality service and local produce to this area," said Halsey. "He will do a much better job then I could ever do with all his experience and success. The Trust does not have any experience in running farmer's markets. We do promote local produce and its continued well-being here on the East End. We want to preserve and support local agriculture as much as possible, as best we can. It has been my life's work to preserve the integrity of locally grown produce and save farmland. I am proud of the successful results of the Peconic Land Trust. This is a very good development for everyone involved."

So once again this August, the smell of freshly baked goods and hot coffee will be coming out of the reopened Amagansett Farmer's Market. Because once again, the CPF, the Peconic Land Trust and a concerned citizen like Margaret De Cuevas have handed the community a win-win situation, and a happy ending.