Food is a $20 billion market in NYC. Today, the NY Times today showcases how Union Square has become a food paradise, with a Wholefoods, great restaurants and a new Trader Joe's, largely because of the enormous greenmarket located there. Instead of allowing a race to the bottom on price, it raised the level of competition, established a good minimum standard for quality food in the area and people flocked to the area from other places. I know many people in my neighborhood who travel by train all the way down there just to get good quality food at reasonable prices.