West Windsor, Trenton, and Downtown Toms River all have open-air markets that will remain open through October and November.
WEST WINDSOR COMMUNITY FARMERS' MARKET
This market welcomes 15 farms and 11 vendors on a weekly basis, all located within a 50-mile radius of West Windsor. (More than 1,000 attendees have been turning out in recent months.) The market takes place every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, in the southbound Vaughn Drive parking lot of the Princeton Junction train station. Created in 2004 by two township residents, the market was voted the Top Celebrated Market in New Jersey and a Top-100 Most Celebrated Market nationwide in American Farmland Trust's "I Love My Farmers Market" Contest.
Among the participating vendors: Beachtree Farm, Cherry Grove Farm, Great Road Farm, Terhune Orchards and North Slope Organic Farm. There is also live entertainment, cooking demonstrations (Holly Slepman is appearing this week), prepared foods and special events . The outdoor market will continue through Nov, 21, at which point the schedule will be reduced to the second Saturday of the month inside the West Windsor Athletic Club.
GREENWOOD AVENUE FARMERS MARKET
This Trenton-based market, taking place 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays, is winding down its inaugural season -- Oct. 26 is the last day. Smaller in scale than some of the other markets, it includes one grower from Hillsborough (Norz Hill Farm), one from Trenton, three Trenton businesses, community building, cooking demonstrations and more. This SNAP authorized market offers dollar-for-dollar benefits to shoppers using food assistance. The central focus is bringing fresh, healthy and accessible food to Trenton. 427 Greenwood Ave.
DOWNTOWN TOMS RIVER FARMERS' MARKET
This Ocean County Market, located at the south corner of Irons and Water streets, is open Mondays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Nov. 18, with a special Thanksgiving farmers market closing out the season on Nov. 23. Four fresh produce farmers and one organic farmer are among the regular vendors. Besides fruits and vegetables, this a good place to pick up honey, pickles and olives, aged balsamic vinegars, hot sauces and kettle corn. The first Wednesday of every month includes a celebration of Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables, with one lucky attendee going home with a special basket featuring the specials of the month. The Oct. 7 prize, which will be given away via raffle, will consist of in-season apples and pumpkins.
ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FARMERS' MARKET
This open-air market, which takes place noon to 6 p.m. Fridays in Veterans Park, 111 First Ave., has just three more weeks remaining before it ends for the season on Oct. 9. There is still time to check out some of the new additions, including a vegan and gluten free stand. A variety of fruits and vegetables, bread and bakery products, ethnic foods, soap, candles and seasonable goodies are also available here.
Contact Bill Gelman at bkgelman@hotmail.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
