Hunt's Point

Do you want to see food distribution on a gargantuan scale? I had no idea that the Hunt's Point markets in the Bronx were that big. What I envisioned was a large building with open stalls. What I saw was something the size of a small town.
Hunt's Point is the largest food distribution center in the world. It occupies 329 acres and is broken up into three primary large distribution centers, each handling different commodities: New York City Terminal Market (fruits and vegetables), Hunts Point Cooperative Market (meat and poultry) and the New Fulton Fish Market.
I expected to visit an open produce market brimming with fruits, vegetables and merchants frenetically shopping and trading. Instead I was greeted with an entrance like that of the Holland Tunnel. No fruits or vegetables were to be seen. I saw chain link fences and many grim and amazing sights - I will feature a few of these in the coming days.
I was a little naive perhaps - after all this is BIG business, not a place to expect the charm and ambiance of a farmers market. For that, you go to Union Square ...

A Note about Hunt's Point: These markets and other smaller ones occupy a large portion of a peninsula in the Bronx neighborhood known as Hunt's Point. There are over 800 businesses employing 25,000 workers. Hunt's Point is also a residential area with over 40,000 residents. However, it is a low-income area where over half live below the poverty line - this is one of the poorest districts in the United States. Crime is rampant with drugs and prostitution. Although crime rates have fallen, Hunt's Point reports the highest violent crime rate in New York City.

Related Posts: Union Square Greenmarket, Union Square.