In 1991, Community Markets founder Miriam Haas started the company’s first farmers market in Ossining, NY. At the time, growers were routinely spraying apples with the chemical Alar. Out of concern for the unknown health effects, she set out to connect with clean, local food sources. Two Hudson Valley farmers answered her call, and together they began selling produce directly to shoppers at the weekly market. Today Community Markets is known as Down to Earth Markets and manages twenty markets Westchester and Rockland Counties and New York City. With over twenty years of experience, we curate each market to ensure shoppers get an exciting diversity of locally crafted products. Our vendors are family-scale farmers and artisinal food producers who work in tandem nature’s seasons. For us, the word local means, “to market and back in a day". Down to Earth Markets is dedicated to creating economic opportunities for local farmers, processors; celebrating our food culture together to enhance community life; and cultivate knowledge, awareness, and practices among consumers and producers to build the local food economy. We bring together two kinds of vendors: local farmers and area food makers who source locally. By incorporating qualified producers into our markets, we expand upon the traditional farmers market. More local food entrepreneurs find a venue to sell their products directly to shoppers. In turn, shoppers benefit by discovering a greater offering of local foods at the markets. Best yet, regional agriculture thrives, as more businesses source from area farms.