Farmers' markets rock everywhere in Central Jersey. You may have a great farmers' market in your town. See after the jump for a list of towns with weekly or biweekly markets.
This week, we highlight the new downtown New Brunswick market and the Hunterdon Land Trust Alliance's market in this story. Both are doing way more than just sell produce; they are bringing a sense of community to their hometowns and fostering real cultural changes through people's eating habits.
And our timing is right, since August 2-8 is National Farmers Market Week as proclaimed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
See my photo gallery of the markets here.
Chef Ed Coss, who raised $1,500 for the HLTA earlier this month, with his fundraising dinner at the Milford Oyster House based on local foods purchased at the farmers' market, is working with the Peach Council of New Jersey and developed special peach recipes to highlight the best of this season's fruit. Get two of his recipes here.
For more about the HLTA's August peach celebrations, see the next Food Chain post.
Meanwhile, another new farmers' market has begun its first year of operation, the West Amwell Farmers' Market.
Its wide variety of vendors includes Highland Gourmet, with farm-raised beef, kielbasa, baked goods and breads, a variety of mushrooms and cheeses including fresh mozzarella. From Podere di Melo Farm you can get eggs, certified naturally grown vegetables, honey, chicken, heritage pork and duck. Spring Run Farm has organic, in-season vegetables and produce, Baran Nursery has locally grown plants and produce, honey and cut flowers, Goat Hill Produce has handcrafted items as well as tomatoes, peppers, melons and peaches in season, and from Ambrosia you can get delicious pies, quiches, muffins and hummus.
The market is at 150 Rocktown-Lambertville Road, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday until Oct. 31.
Also at MyCentralJersey this week, read about the fair food coming up at the Middlesex County Fair on Cranbury Road starting Monday, and why Mark Spivey sometimes just needs a Pabst Blue Ribbon. See why Jay Jefferson Cooke didn't like his sandwiches this week, and get some tips on using summer herbs, from Janet Leonardi's discussion with Stockton Inn chef Abe Berisha.
Now, here's that towns list for farmers' markets
For more details, times and locations of these farmers' markets, visit http://www.state.nj.us/jerseyfresh/ and/or www.localharvest.org
TUESDAYS
Downtown New Brunswick is scheduled to be open on Tuesdays from noon to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
at 178 Jones Avenue
The market will accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps) and coupons from the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
WEDNESDAYS
Roselle Park Farmers' Market, Chestnut Street and East Grant Avenue, Roselle Park, 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, July 1 to Oct. 28.
THURSDAYS
Downtown Somerville Farmers' Market, Corner of Grove and East Main streets. Thursdays, noon to 6 p.m., through Oct. 1
Rahway Farmers' Market, East Milton Avenue and Irving Street. Noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays, July 9 to Oct. 15.
Ray Mikell
Executive Director
Rahway Center Partnership
732-396-3545
FRIDAYS
Middlesex Borough Farmer's Market is open every Friday through Sept 18th from 11a.m-5pm in front of Middlesex High School on Rt. 28 Union Ave. directly across from McDonalds. All varieties of fruits and vegetables are available.
Highland Park’s Farmer’s Market will run every Friday until Nov. 20.
The farmer’s market will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the municipal parking lot on Raritan Avenue between Second and Third streets.
Rutgers Gardens, New Brunswick off Ryder Lane 2 to 6 p.m
Downtown New Brunswick from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 178 Jones Avenue
SATURDAYS
Jamesburg
Metuchen
Woodbridge at Town Hall
Bernardsville at train station
Bound Brook at train station
Franklin Twp Somerset - St. Johns Plaza - 720 Hamilton St.
Montgomery - Route 206 shopping center parking lot across from Montgomery Cinema
North Plainfield- Somerset & Race streets across from Boro Hall
Scotch Plains - municipal lot 430 Park Ave.
Lebanon Borough - Main Street
Westfield
West Amwell - at West Amwell Municipal Building, 150 Rocktown-Lambertville Road, every Saturday until Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SUNDAYS
Edison - 980 Amboy Ave.
Flemington/Raritan Township - Dvoor Farm on the Route 12 Circle