Metuchen Farmers Market 2013

By Nelson Li – The Metuchen Farmers Market has been in existence since 1997, but has enjoyed a revitalization starting 2011, when it grew from a few farmers to more than a dozen top-notch vendors. Managed entirely by community volunteers, the market hosts four “Jersey Fresh” farmers and other food-first vendors offering cheese, pickles, olives, fresh-baked breads, mozzarella, gluten-free granola, dried fruits/nuts, grass-fed pork, free-range eggs, farmhouse-baked pies and more.
Our farmers range from long-time New Jersey growers like Farmer Al’s and Von Thun’s to the newly-started woman-farmed transitional-to-organic Whistling Wolf Farm. The variety of vegetables and fruits offered for sale every week is astonishing and mouth-watering.
In addition to being a market in the commercial sense of buying-selling, the Metuchen Farmers Market embraces opportunities to enhance the community fabric. For instance, the Market has initiated a program where farmers donate excess produce to worthy causes such as Kiddie Keep Well Camp in Edison (thanks Bob Von Thun!) and the Metuchen First Presbyterian Church’s food pantry (thanks Walt Zyck of Country Stand Farm!). We also offer a free table to community non-profit organizations so they can do outreach: participants include(d) Women Helping Women, Metuchen EMS, Borough Improvement League, Friends of the Metuchen Public Library, Metuchen High School Garden Club, Build With Purpose and Bike|Walk Metuchen. Finally, we aspire to support local businesses, whether they are currently Chamber of Commerce members (they get a free weekly table as well) or are a business that is thinking of establishing a store-front in Metuchen and can use a Farmers Market stall to “test the market”.
The Farmers Market has added a great “buzz” to summer Saturdays in downtown Metuchen. We look forward to seeing you there!
Nelson Li is Market Manager on behalf of the Farmers Market (Volunteer) Committee, the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce and the Borough of Metuchen.
http://www.metuchenfarmersmarket.com/index.html
Proudly presented by the Metuchen Chamber of Commerce
Nelson Li Market Manager
2013 Vendors
Whistling Wolf Farm
Fruits and vegetables (transitional to organic)
www.WhistlingWolfFarm.com
Country Stand Farms
Fruits and vegetables

Von Thun’s Farms
Fruits and vegetables
www.VonThunFarms.com
Farmer Al’s
Fruits and vegetables
www.farmerals.com
Cherry Grove Farm
Cheese from grass-fed cows, meat/sausages/bacon
www.cherrygrovefarm.com

Hoboken Farm Stand
Breads, meats, pastas, fresh mozzarella, stuffed breads, and sauce
www.hobokenfarms.com



Pickles and Olives etc
Marinated mushrooms sun-dried tomatoes, pickles and olives
www.picklesandolives.com

Gourmet Nuts and Dried Fruits
Dried fruits and nuts
www.gourmetnutsanddriedfruit.com
Starving Anthropologist
Granola, snickerdoodles
www.TheStarvingAnthropologist.com

DEFCON Hot Sauce
Wing Sauce from Mild to En Fuegio
www.defconsauces.com

Little Owl Soap
Hand-crafted vegan soaps and oils
www.LittleOwlSoap.com
Sunshine Farm Fresh Eggs
Fresh eggs

Yona’s Gourmet Delights
Quiche, puff pastries, cakes, desserts
www.YonasDelights.com