Greenmarket Speaks on the State of the Union

The Union Square Greenmarket became a forum for discussion on Friday afternoon, as New Yorkers shared their reactions to President Obama's State of the Union address delivered Thursday evening.

Amidst the array of mixed vegetables was an array of mixed reviews for the President’s address.

“There were a lot of good ideas, but the solutions offered are not going to work,” said Kenneth Barber, 67, a farmer from Valoise, New York. Barber expressed his disdain for big business and his dissapointment in Obama’s failure to act on behalf of the “little man.”

“In reality, Wall Street has become nothing but a big gambling casino,” Barber said from the passenger seat of his bright yellow Penske truck he transports his produce in every weekend.

Not everyone at the Greenmarket shared such a negative reaction to the address, however.

“I think that too many people are forgetting who got us into trouble and they are blaming him,” said Gail Bitoe, 66, a vendor from Chelsea, New York. Bitoe stated that she would cast the same vote for President Obama today that she did in 2008.

Still others were at a loss for words.

While many people admitted to not having watched the address, student Dan DiLeo, 55, silently threw up his arms in an exaggerated shrug in his response to the speech.

The Union Square Greenmarket, an open air farmer's market, has been thriving since a few farmers first arrived to sell their produce in 1976.

Greenmarket vendors braved the bitter cold Friday to sell their goods.

New York farmer Kenneth Barber, 67, stands next to the truck that transports his produce to the Union Square Greenmarket every weekend. Barber voiced a great deal of concern over the direction Obama is leading the country in.

New Yorkers stroll through a sea of tents at Union Square's Greenmarket.

Dan DiLeo, a 55-year old full time student, offers his response to Obama's State of the Union address delivered Thursday evening.