New Jersey is known as the Garden State for a reason. Home to over 9,000 farms, NJ is a prime location for producing bell peppers, peaches, tomatoes, and corn, to name a few. Visiting weekly farmer’s markets is a fantastic way to celebrate and support local farms, artisans, and many other unique vendors, businesses, eateries, and wineries.
North to South, East to West, shore to mountains, it’s not hard to find a weekly farmer’s market no matter where you happen to be in this beautiful state! Here are a few that continue to come with high praises and recommendations.
Map of Farmers Markets in New Jersey
Summit Summer Farmers' Market
Sundays, 8am to 1pm
Summit boasts an impressive list of farms and vendors that set up shop on Sundays throughout the spring, summer, and even into the late-fall. Pick up a variety of tasty Kimchi at Kimchi Culture. Follow that by quenching your palate with Lizzmonade’s signature fruit-infused lizzmonade, coffees, and teas. Don’t forget a healthy treat for your favorite furry friend from Mandarin’s Cookies! In addition to a variety of bakeries, food stalls, and drink specialties, be sure to pick up produce from the likes of farms such as Cherry Grove Organic Farm, Vacchiano Farm, and fresh cheeses from Valley Shepherd Creamery. Do yourself a favor and grab a few jars of the most delicious sauces from Hoboken Farms, too! So good!
The Summit Farmer’s Market participates in the G.I.F.T. (Give It Fresh Today) program: “Every week hundreds of pounds of fresh produce and prepared foods are distributed through our partners: G.R.A.C.E. (Giving & Receiving Assistance for our Community’s Essentials), S.H.I.P. (Summit Helping Its People), St. Teresa’s Loaves and Fishes (all based in Summit) and St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen.” G.I.F.T. is always looking for volunteers!
They have also recently banned plastic bags at their farmers market, encouraging shoppers to go a little greener and use their own. What a great idea!
Sparta Farmers' Market
Saturdays, 9am-1pm
Sparta’s market hosts an impressive number of farms and vendors. Focusing on the importance of local farmers’ hard and honest work, Sparta Farmer’s Market prides itself on being a place for vendors and farmers to come together. With favorites like Live, Love, Granola, The Everlasting Garden, The Greek Kitchen, and Ventimiglia Vineyards there, supporting locally sourced business is a breeze. Visit Maria’s Biscotti for handmade gourmet biscottis and pastas, or Well-Sweep Herb Farm to get an idea of what they have to offer: “one of the largest collections of herbs and perennials in the country.”
Duke Farms Farmers' Market
Sundays, 10am to 3pm
Duke Farms have a Farm to Table Market every Sunday at the Farm Barn orientation center, where vendors are focused on environmental stewardship. Locktown Farm specializes fermented drinks like kimchi, kombucha, ginger beer, and root beer, while building soil fertility on their farm. Woods Edge Wool Farm, a sustainable fiber farm, brings “slow fiber” home decor, honey, and yak meat to the farmers market. The Oldwick Soup Company makes stops at Duke Farms over the course of the season allowing us to taste their yummiest soups, but also reminding us the importance of giving back as they donate a portion of each of their batches of soup to local food banks. If you’re looking to learn more about making small changes in an effort towards sustainability, pay a visit to sustainable haus.
Haddonfield Farmers' Market
Saturdays, 8:30am to 1pm
It’s all about fresh and local at the Haddonfield Farmers Market! Starting May 18 and going through until Haddonfield Fall Festival, take home everything you need for the week — vegan guacamole from Anita’s Guacamole, your next bag of coffee from Jersey Devil Java, ribs from Smoke BBQ — and finish it off with a sweet treat from the Custard Cart! Support a local teenager and her mom by ordering a Seashore Smoothie, and try a tasty delight from Respond, Inc’s Culinary Arts graduates at Respond Bakery’s tent!
Morristown Farmers' Market
Sundays starting June, 8:30am to 2pm
Celebrating their 28th season, the farmers market in Morristown features Be Well Yoga classes, fresh seafood from Shore Catch, and maple syrups, crumbles, and interestingly enough, dog treats from Our Woods Maple Syrup(@ourwoodsmaple) — and LOADS of local farms’ delectable fresh fruits and vegetables.
Princeton Farmers' Market
Thursdays, 10am to 3pm
Visit the farmers market in downtown Princeton (@princetonfarmersmarket) to catch food, yoga, live music, and the most beautiful bouquets you’ve ever seen from the many farm stands at the market! There are so many unique finds at this farmers market, including Davidson’s Exotic Mushrooms, Demi Olive Oil, LoRe artisan Pasta, Curries and Chutneys, and Bon Nut Butters and Sweets. You can even get lunch take-out from local favorites Terra Momo or Jammin’ Crepes along the way. When you’re done walking around, grab a quick massage from The Touch that Heals — you deserve it!
Downtown Toms River Farmers' Market
Wednesdays, 11am to 5pm
Don’t miss picking up some new spices from Wicked Good Spice Mixes, such as ‘Clucking Good Chicken’, ‘MMM…Meatloaf’, and ‘A Fish Seasoning Called Wanda’. Fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables from Krowicki’s Farm are a local favorite. Also stop by the High Mountain Foods tent to check out their selection of fish, meats, and cheeses. Bonus: visit the first Wednesday of the month when you can enter the free raffle and win a basket of Jersey Fresh produce of the month!
Collingswood Farmers' Market
Saturdays 8am to 12pm
Every week, this jam-packed farmers market posts a guide online that includes what’s in season and any special vendors that are coming up! This farmers market is big on Jersey Fresh produce, and boasts some notable local meat vendors including Buck Wild Bison specialising in humanely raised, grass-fed bison. And get yourself a fresh cup of joe from Cup of Bliss Coffee Company.
Asbury Fresh Farmers' Market
Sundays 10am to 3pm
Asbury Fresh began with a vision to bring nothing but the freshest produce and foods to downtown Asbury Park, and has now spread to host other Fresh Markets around the area (check out Bell Works Fresh in Holmdel and Pier Village Fresh in Long Branch).
West Windsor Community Farmers' Market
Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm
The West Windsor Community Farmers Market has grown from eight original farm participants to over fifty local producers. The market features organic and conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. Terhune Orchards is beloved not only for their beautiful produce – their donuts, cookies, and pies are equally special. You can also find alpaca and llama products and many non-farm vendors selling artisanal bread, jams, and pickles.
Cherry Grove Farm not only offers artisanal cheeses; they offer classes periodically at the farm in cheese making. Moonshot Farm is a new local favorite at the market. They are a sustainable farm producing fresh-cut flowers. They recently introduced the first Winter CSA in New Jersey when they installed revolutionary new geothermal tunnels for winter flower growing. Here’s a current list of the vendors at the market this season.
Columbus Farmers' Market
Thursdays to Sundays, 8 am to 3 pm Outdoors, 8 am to 8 pm Indoors
Opened in 1919 as a cattle and horse auction center, the Columbus Farmers Market has grown to over 200 acres. The market includes; 65 indoor shops, Produce Row, An Amish Market, a John Deer equipment rental site, and numerous outdoor merchants. You can purchase in-season fruits and vegetables from Columbus Produce or fresh shellfish at Cannuli’s Produce. Ingredients for specialty Asian and Latin dishes can also be found among the produce aisles here. Outdoor vendors have everything from treasures from the garage and attic to the latest “As Seen on TV” items. This is the oldest and largest Farmers’ Market in the Delaware Valley. Click here for a detailed map of the market complex.
Metuchen Farmers' Market
Saturdays, 9am to 2 pm
This market has grown since its inception in 2011. During the Pandemic, this market was one of the first to offer on-line sales to home bound consumers. Chickadee Creek Farm, an organic farm, participated actively in the program. When the market opens in June – expect to find them there with fresh vegetables, produce, and flowers.
Bernardsville Farmers' Market
Saturdays, Summer 9 am to 1 pm, Winter 10 am to 12 pm
Delicious baked goods, honey, empanadas, pasture raised meats and a variety of other locally produced foods are available here in addition to the produce and flowers. Sourland Spirits offers handcrafted spirits from their Hopewell distillery. WoodsEdge Farm brings a variety of yarns and beautiful garments and textiles made from the fibers of their herds of llamas, alpacas and yaks. The current vendor list is on their website.
The Galleria Red Bank Farmers' Market
Sundays, 1:00 pm to 6 pm May to September
This market is owned and operated by the Borough of Sea Bright. In addition to a large selection of gorgeous Jersey Fresh produce from local farmers, this market has several specialty favorites. Caldino’s produces fresh mozzarella on site along with other tasty pasta dishes. The pickles from Picklelicious have their own following they’re quite popular. You can also shop at this pet friendly shop– stop in at Woof Woof Barkery for some all-natural dog treats for your pup. The best place for up-to-date info on this market is their Facebook Page.
Flemington Farmers' Market (Dutch Country Farmers' Market)
Thursdays 10 am to 6 pm, Fridays 9 am to 6 pm, Saturdays 8 am to 3 pm
This market features a variety of Amish vendors from Lancaster County. Featured items are produce, meats and cheeses in addition to many beautiful hand-crafted items like candles. Esh’s Crafts offers handmade birdhouses, picture frames, quilts and furniture. At Lil’s Pretzel’s & Ice Cream enjoy hard rolled pretzels and hand dipped ice-cream. For a mouthwatering list of vendors click here.
Marlboro Farmers' Market
Sundays, 9 am to 2 pm, June to October
Sponsored by the Township of Marlboro and featuring over 40 vendors, this market is always a seasonal hit. Gelateria La Piazza offers enticing gelato in a wide variety of flavors. Garden State Distillery creates hand crafted spirits, and if you’re still thirsty (or sober) stop by Beech Bee Meadery before you call for an Uber ride home. Check the Facebook Page for the Fall Holiday Market and catch the food trucks that come to town.
Other Notable Farmers’ Markets around New Jersey:
- Montclair Farmers Market: Saturdays, 8 am to 2 pm June to November, 8 am to 1 pm December to May, Walnut Street Train Station (86 Walnut Street)
- Stangl Factory Farmers Market: Saturdays, 9 am to 3 pm, Old Stangl Factory (Mine Street & Stangl Road)
- Jersey City Farmers Market: Mondays to Thursdays, 4 pm to 8 pm April 24 to December 21,2023, Grove Street PATH Plaza (Newark & Grove Streets)
- Greater Bridgeton Amish Market: Thursdays, 9 am to 7 pm, Saturdays, 9 am to 4 pm, 2 Cassidy Court
- Ramsey Farmers Market: Sundays, 9 am to 2 pm May to November, 10 am to 1 pm December to April, Main Street Train Station
- Downtown Wildwood Farmers Market: Saturdays, 8 am to 12:30 pm Memorial Day to Labor Day, 3400 Pacific Avenue
- Wenonah Farmers Market: Thursdays, 4 pm to 7 pm May to September, 1 East Mantua (Mantua & South Clinton Avenues)
- Pennington Farmers Market: Saturdays, 9 am to 1 pm mid-May to November, Rosedale Mills (101 Route 31)
- Highland Park Farmers Market: Fridays, 11:am to 5:30 pm April to October, 11 am to 4:30 pm November to December, Market Pavilion (212 Raritan Avenue)
- Little Falls Farmers Market: Sundays, 9 am to 2 pm, Late May to late October, 225 Main Street
- Madison: Thursdays, 2-7pm, opens May 23, Central Ave between Main St. and Cook Ave
- Denville (@denvillemarket): Sundays, 10am-1pm, opens May 5, Bloomfield Ave in Downtown Denville
- Hopatcong: Sundays, 9am-2pm, opens June 16, 111 River Styx Rd
- Maplewood: Mondays, 2-7pm, Springfield Ave between Yale & Oberlin Streets
- Nutley: Sundays 6/16-10/27, 9am-2pm, 537 Franklin Ave
- Westfield: Saturdays, 8am-1:30pm, opens beginning of June, North Ave Train Station
- Sussex County: Saturdays, 9am-2pm, opens beginning of June, 37 Plains Road in Augusta
New Jersey Vendors To Keep An Eye Out For!
Other noteworthy vendors that make their appearances at a number of NJ farmer’s markets are:
- Windy Brow Farms (@windybrowfarms) which offer produce, flowers, and delicious homemade ice cream)
- Wichdogs Street Food (@wichdogs_streetfoodandcatering) who make hot dogs, gourmet sausages, sandwiches and other street food
- Secret Garden Soap of Madison make their own goat’s milk soaps and lotions
- For those who are looking for yummy vegan, gluten-free, organic treats Ester’s Treats (@esterstreats) are an excellent go-to
- Spoon Me Soups (@spoonmesoups) offer a variety of all natural soups aimed to be both exotic and healthy
- The beloved Empanada Lady (@cyndiemanadalady), who has a food truck and is a farmer’s market favorite, serves sandwiches like the El Cubano, as well as other meat, veggie, and even sweet empanadas
Local Farms You Can Visit For Fresh Food:
There are several local farms that are also frequent staples of the farmer’s market scene:
- Alstede Farms (@alstedefarms)
- Griggstown Farm (@griggstownfarm484)
- Union Hill Farms (@unionhillfarms)
- The Farmer & the Chickpea
- Melick’s Town Farm (@melickstownfarm)
- Sweet Carol’s
- Race Farm
- Squirrel and the Bee (@squirrelandthebee)
- Ideal Farms
- Tassot Apiaries
- Fresh Pickins (@freshpickinsnj)
- Hope Cress Farms
- Give a follow to @bagelsbyjarrett to be notified of their next secret pop-up!
Additional Resources:
Here is an extensive list of all Farmers’ Markets in New Jersey broken out by county, and also by days of operation.
New Jersey is open for business – agribusiness that is!!! Check out this state sponsored link for Agritourism in New Jersey for a list of breweries and other fun agriculture related businesses to support in the Garden State!
Featured photo by Eric on Flickr
