(WEST WINDSOR) – New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Joe Atchison III marked National Farmers Market Week with a visit to the West Windsor Community Farmers Market on Saturday morning.

The USDA each year proclaims a National Farmers Market Week to remind consumers to visit these markets this summer and fall.

“Community farmers markets provide a convenient avenue for residents to access a wide variety of delicious just-picked Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables,” Assistant Secretary Atchison said.  “Farmers markets foster a sense of community and allow consumers an opportunity to interact with farmers and gain a better understanding of where and how their food is grown.”

There are approximately 140 community farmers markets and 700 independent farmers markets in the state.  Farmers who attend these markets sell produce they’ve picked at the peak of ripeness within 24 hours of sale to ensure the best taste and highest quality. 

The West Windsor Community Farmers' Market is celebrating its 20^th season and is located at 877 Alexander Road in West Windsor. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through November 18 and runs twice monthly throughout the winter. The market hosts approximately 50 vendors with nearly 20 farms represented, along with a variety of other food-related booths, knife sharpening, a composting service, live music, and community groups.

Last year in a poll by American Farmland Trust, the West Windsor Market was voted by the public as the No. 1 community farmers market in New Jersey and the No. 4 market in the Northeast.

 “As a farmers market organized entirely by the community, creating a welcoming and vibrant pop-up open-air marketplace each week to celebrate New Jersey farms and artisan food purveyors has been our mission since 2004," West Windsor Community Farmers Market Manager Chris Cirkus said.  "Our weekly roster is representative of the diverse offerings grown, raised, and produced in the Garden State, and we absolutely love that our shoppers can do most of their weekly shopping with us, all while supporting our farms and vendors.”

Eating Jersey Fresh fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products can go a long way to improving overall health. Eating locally also is a good choice for protecting the environment by reducing the miles a meal travels between farm and fork, lessening fuel consumption. In addition, choosing locally grown products helps keep New Jersey farmers on their land, preserving the Garden State’s quality of life.

To find where Jersey Fresh produce is sold, go to https://findjerseyfresh.com and search for a market closest to your location.

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To learn more about the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NJDeptofAgriculture and www.facebook.com/JerseyFreshOfficial or Twitter @NJDA and @JerseyFreshNJDA.