Farm Markets Get Underway For Summer
Vegging at the Shore
By Marci Lutsky
Last Saturday was the final day of the Linwood Farmers Market spring season. I co-founded and co-manage the market. The end of the spring season signifies a couple of things. First, I can stop obsessively watching the weekend weather forecast until our fall season starts up again in September. Second, I can visit all of the summer farmers markets. From now until November, I buy most of my produce locally. Jersey fruits and vegetables are some of the best and luckily you can find them at a variety of markets. Here are some of my favorite markets to shop at over the summer.
The Ventnor City Farmers Market will begin their second season on Friday and be held every week from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm in the parking lot of Holy Trinity Parish until August 31st. At this market you will find a variety of farms, prepared food vendors and crafters.
This market is ideal for the summer crowd who comes to the Shore and wants to stock up on local goodies for the weekend.
I’m really looking forward to checking out the Upper Township Farmers Market which will be held on Sundays from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm from June 24th through August 26th at Amanda’s Field in Petersburg. It’s nice to see the revival of this farmers market. There are not many markets held on Sundays and what’s also nice about this one is that it’s being advertised as Sunday Fun Day. Families are encouraged to attend not only to shop, but to enjoy entertainment.
The three other markets that I enjoy shopping at are Ocean City, Margate and Brigantine. Ocean City Farmers Market is held on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm from June 27th through September 5th at the Tabernacle. This market is a nice blend of farms, food and crafts. The Margate Community Farmers Market is held on Thursdays in the parking lot of Steve and Cookies from June 14th through August 30th from 8:30 am until noon. Follow their Facebook page so you know when their annual peach pie contest is held in August.
The Brigantine Farmers Market begins Memorial Day weekend and is held on Saturdays from 8:00 am to noon through September 1st. They always have a lot of kids activities and entertainment as well as chef demonstrations. This market is very nicely spread out so you don’t feel overcrowded.
While I love shopping at the local farmers markets, I also cannot wait for my CSA (community supported agriculture) to begin in June. I purchased a farm share at B&B Farms in Egg Harbor City and each week I can go there to pick up my bag of pesticide-free fruits and vegetables from June through October. Other local farms that offer CSA’s are Jah’s Creation Organic Farm, Potato Homestead and J&T Farms. Jersey fresh produce is one of the reasons I look forward to this time of year. I would love to hear about your favorite farms and farmers markets!
Marci Lutsky is a food blogger at Vegging at the Shore, www.veggingattheshore.com and can be reached at veggingattheshore@gmail.com.
