New
Jersey Agriculture Secretary Art Brown visited
the Hoboken Farmers' Market this afternoon
to take a firsthand look at one of the most popular
spots in the state, the urban farmers' market.
The visit highlights Farmers' Market Week in the
Garden State and nationwide. Brown was joined by
Hoboken officials, Mayor David Roberts, Environmental
Services Director Cassandra Wliday and Human Services
Director Carmello Garcia, and market manager David
Calamoneri. The five-year-old Hoboken Farmers'
Market is one of 35 urban markets operating in
New Jersey and is co-sponsored by the Environment
Committee of Hoboken and the City of Hoboken. This
year the market is served by four farmers (including
an organic farmer) and an organic baker: Kevin
Kyle of K & S Farms in Cream Ridge; Jeff O'Hara
of Union Hill Farms in Denville; John Melick of
Melick's Town Farms in Oldwick; Bruce & Mary
Marek of Old Hook Farm in Emerson; and Sally Reinhardt,
The Bread Co. in Montclair. Customers at the market
find a wide range of Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables
and bakery items made with organic ingredients.
Located on Newark Street between River and Hudson
Streets and one block from the PATH, the market's
location has proven to be the perfect spot for
neighbors, area residents and commuters to meet,
shop and visit. The market, which operates from
3 to 7:30 pm on Tuesdays from the end of June through
October, has become an important part of the community. "Farmers'
markets offer consumers a varied selection of delicious,
nutritious fruits and vegetables locally grown
and freshly picked," said Brown. "There is nothing
that can compare to the taste of Garden State fruits
and vegetables picked just hours before you bite
into them." New Jersey's farmers' markets date
back to the 1600s. Currently, there are 35 urban
farmers' markets attended by more than 150 farmers
in over 30 municipalities throughout the state.
Urban markets usually cater to several different
consumer groups, including the residents of the
surrounding area, those who work in the area and
those who travel through the area on their way
to work or other destinations. No matter what brings
shoppers to the farmers' market, they are likely
to become loyal patrons. "Urban farmers' markets
have enjoyed a tremendous resurgence of popularity
in the past several years," Brown noted. "They
bring a new sense of community to the host cities
and offer a colorful, enjoyable place where consumers
can buy the freshest locally-grown produce available." Brown
said customers also value the chance to talk directly
to the farmers who grow the produce they buy. "One
of the most important results of a farmers' market
is the person-to-person bond that's created between
the farmers and their customers," he noted. "The
farmers get to know what kinds of produce their
customers like and customers experiment with fruits
and vegetables they may not have enjoyed before." The
urban farmers' markets operate on various days
and times during the week. For a listing of the
farmers' markets and their operating hours, contact
the New Jersey Council of Farmers and Communities
(NJCFC) at (973) 236-1875 or visit their web site
at www.njcfc.org.
The Garden State also boasts nearly 400 markets
right on the farm. Some are open year round, some
seasonally and many offer a wide variety of family-oriented
events throughout the year. For a complete listing
of farm markets in their area, consumers can contact
NJDA's Division of Markets at (609) 292-8853 or
visit the department's web site at www.state.nj.us/agriculture.
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