By Christina Martin
You cannot say summer without thinking Jersey Fresh corn and tomatoes. As we head toward the warmer months the planning has been underway for farmers markets throughout the shore area. They are gearing up to bring you a bounty of local produce as well as other local items such as flowers, baked goods, honey and seafood. And whether you are resident or visiting a shore town for vacation, you can help support local businesses and farmers by shopping at a local farmers market.
Eating local seasonal foods also has its health benefits since produce doesn’t have to travel as far. Who doesn’t want fruits and veggies picked at their peak of freshness. Many local farmers, although they may not be certified organic, still follow organic practices which is an added benefit.
What is also nice is that many shore towns hold their markets on different days of the week so if you want to check out another town for a day trip you can also stop by their market. Strolling the aisles of an outside market and taking in all the fresh produce the season has to offer is one of the benefits of summer.
Below is listing of shore area markets along with a recipe using some local ingredients you will find this season.
Brigantine Farmers Market
Saturday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
May 25 – Aug. 31
Location: Brigantine Community School, 301 Evans Blvd.
Egg Harbor Township Market
Sundays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
May 26 – Sept. 1
Location: Atlantic County Library, Egg Harbor Township grounds, 1 Swift Dr.
Galloway Green Market
Thursday 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
June 29 -Sept. 7
Location: Smithville Village, at Historic Smithville Village Greene
Margate Community Farmers Market
Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
June 13- Aug. 29
Location: Corner of Monroe and Amherst Avenue
Ocean City Farmers Market
Wednesday 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
June 5 – Sept. 4
Location: 6th and Asbury Avenue
Sea Isle City Farmers Market
Tuesday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
June 18- Aug. 27
Location: Excursion Park, 41st Street
Somers Point Farmer’s Market
Saturday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
May 18 – Sept. 4
Location: Somers Mansion, 1000 Shore Rd.
Ventnor City Farmers Market
Friday 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
May 24- Aug. 30
Location: Corner of Atlantic & Newport
Opening day at the farmers market usually brings with it red delicious strawberries as they are coming into season. It is best to find ones that are organic or that are pesticide free. Grab a pint or two of strawberries at your local farmers market along with a loaf of bread, some fresh basil and use either dairy free (for our vegan friends) or regular cheese. Below is a recipe that uses these red beauties along with fresh bread, herbs and is a delicious and eye appealing appetizer to enjoy while dining in your backyard and soaking up some sun and fresh salt air.
Balsamic Strawberry Crostini
Ingredients:
- For the Balsamic Glaze:
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- For the Crostini:
- 1 French baguette, cut into ¼- ½ inch slices
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 7-ounce dairy free cheese or a regular cheese such as brie, sliced into small wedges
- 2 cups strawberries, stemmed and chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
Procedure:
For the balsamic glaze:
In a small saucepan, lightly boil balsamic vinegar over medium high heat until reduced to ¼ cup and it coats the back of a spoon (about 25 minutes)
Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, and refrigerate for 4 hours or up to 1 week.
For the crostini:
Heat oven to 400°F. Place the baguette slices onto a sheet pan and brush with olive oil. Season bread with salt and pepper. Bake for 5 minutes or until slightly toasted. Once cooled, top crostini with brie slices and strawberries.
Drizzle each with balsamic glaze and sprinkle chopped basil over the top.
Most of the ingredients in this balsamic strawberry crostini recipe will be readily available at these local farmers markets in the first weeks of the markets. As the markets begin to open also look for Jersey fresh hot house tomatoes and asparagus to be available. Grilled asparagus is easy to prepare and makes a delicious side dish. And as more fruits and vegetables are harvested each week there will be more variety to choose from. And do not worry if there is a vegetable that you do not care for as you can easily swap out one vegetable for another. Recipes using local, fresh, and seasonal vegetables are easy to prepare and make healthy summer time dishes. As I visit these local farmers markets this summer I will be sharing these easy to make healthy recipes using the local fruits and vegetables available each week at the farmers markets.
Chef Christina Martin is a dedicated chef educator, passionate advocate for healthy eating, and mother. Christina’s expertise has been spotlighted in Independent Restaurateur Magazine and she has been awarded 2024 Chef Educator of the Year from the Professional Chef Association of South Jersey.
