The Fulton Fish Market: A History

The Fulton Fish Market in New York City is a historic institution that has been a wholesale fish and seafood market since the late 19th century. It has been celebrated in literature and popular culture and is a vital distribution point for fish. This book explores the market's history, its significance, and how it has shaped American cuisine, commerce, and culture.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

The Fulton Fish Market, a New York City institution, has a rich and storied history. Initially serving as a local retail market for a wide variety of food items, it evolved into the largest fish and seafood wholesaling center in the nation by the late 19th century. Waves of immigrants who worked at the Fulton Fish Market brought their seafood traditions to the rest of the city, contributing to its culinary diversity. The market, celebrated in Joseph Mitchell's The New Yorker, has become synonymous with the bustling East River waterfront, late-night fishmongering, organized crime, and a vanishing working-class New York.

In his book, "The Fulton Fish Market: A History," Jonathan H. Rees delves into the workings and significance of this iconic market, tracing the transportation, retail, and consumption of fish. He explores the stories of the people and institutions that depended on the Fulton Fish Market, including fishermen, retail stores, restaurants, and chefs, and demonstrates how the market influenced what customers in New York and around the country ate. Rees also examines transformations in food provisioning systems through the lens of a vital distribution point, arguing that the market's wholesale dealers were innovative businessmen who adapted to technological change in a dynamic industry.

Furthermore, he explains how changes in the urban landscape and economy affected the history of the market and the surrounding neighborhood. By bringing together economic, technological, urban, culinary, and environmental history, this book showcases how the Fulton Fish Market shaped American cuisine, commerce, and culture.

The Fulton Fish Market's legacy continues to be felt today, as it remains a bustling hub for the seafood industry. Its history serves as a reminder of the city's rich cultural and culinary heritage and the contributions of immigrants who have shaped its culinary landscape.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231202565