ABOUT THE MARKET

The Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market is open to the public and features farm fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, poultry, baked goods, maple products and more.  The Market, now planning its seventh year, will also feature prepared food vendors and local artisans offering hand-crafted kitchenware items.

The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum opened the Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market in summer 2017 to connect City residents and families with fresh, affordable and locally-produced food.  In doing so, it became the first children’s museum in the country to open and operate a public farmers market as a strategy for fighting urban food insecurity and advancing community health.  In September 2019 the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum received the international 2019 Roy L. Shafer Leading Edge Award for Business Practice from the Association of Science-Technology Centers / ASTC (Washington, DC) in recognition of the Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market.

In spring 2020, in response to the near total disruption of the local food system in Poughkeepsie due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Market rallied its vendors and opened one month early to help bring fresh healthy food to downtown Poughkeepsie during the public health crisis.  Support for this pre-season opening came from the City of Poughkeepsie, the Voya Foundation, Stewarts Shops, Humanities New York, the Dyson Foundation, the Dutchess Responds Fund, and private donations to the MHCM Annual Fund. Due to the continued COVID-19 crisis, for the first time, the Market extended its season through October 2020.

The Market is a certified SNAP Market and also participates in the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Programs to ensure the affordability of fresh produce and farm products for low-income individuals and families.  A grant received from MVP Healthcare in 2018, allowed the Market to implement its Electronic Transfer (EBT) system, enabling customers to use SNAP benefits from a government issued debit card.

The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum is centrally involved in the revitalization efforts taking place along the Poughkeepsie Waterfront.  The operation of this Market provides MHDM with yet another way to support the City of Poughkeepsie and the region by making fresh food available to City residents and visitors all while showcasing the agricultural bounty of local Hudson Valley farms.

The Poughkeepsie Waterfront Market is steps away from the Poughkeepsie Train Station, two city parks, and the Walkway Over the Hudson elevator, making the Market accessible to City residents, families visiting the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, tourists, and commuters alike.  The Pavilion that hosts the Market is fully covered, offers public restrooms and free onsite parking at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum during the Market hours.