Migliorelli Farm Stand On Farmers Market “Rush Hour”

In Search of a Greener New York is an ongoing Garden Collage series of explorations about sustainability efforts in New York City and beyond– including the people, places, and ideas that are making Manhattan a healthier, happier place to live. In this column, we spotlight individuals who are making New York a “greener” place in an attempt to discover how, exactly, they are doing it. This week, GC spotlights Migliorelli Farm Stand, whose origins can be traced back to a few seeds of broccoli rabe.

Migliorelli Farm Stand is one our team’s favorite stops at the Union Square Farmers Market. They have beautiful produce– their greens and apples in particular– and a friendly staff to match.

“There’s actually ‘rush hour’ in the morning,” says Juan, one of the men working the stall for the Tivoli-based farm, who greets us amicably on a busy Wednesday at the market (Tivoli is in Upstate New York). “And then there’s another one at lunch and also around 5 PM, when everyone is getting out of work,” he adds. The stall’s most popular item, we ask? “Broccoli rabe, spinach, kale…people love the greens! But once the peaches, tomatoes, and berries start coming in, those will take off.”

Migliorelli Farm was pioneered in the Bronx in 1933, when Angelo Migliorelli first brought broccoli rabe seeds to New York after immigrating from the Lazio region of Italy. Today, the farm grows over 130 different varieties of fruits and vegetables, including the same strain of broccoli rabe. (After hearing this story, we bought some immediately.)