Thanks to the healthy support from sponsor St. Peters Healthcare System, the weekly Highland Park Farmers Market returns on Friday, June 2, 2017 for its 21st year, providing locals with the Garden State’s bounty through mid-December.
The Highland Park Farmers Market is a project of Main Street Highland Park, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and revitalization of Highland Park’s downtown.
“The Highland Park’s Farmers Market is a local institution, and we’re delighted to be celebrating its 21st year,” said Rebecca Hersh, Executive Director of Main Street Highland Park. “Our market plays an important role in our community – it not only brings fruits and vegetables to town, but also adds vitality and fun to Highland Park every Friday, and allows us to showcase all the shops, restaurants, and other businesses in Highland Park’s downtown.”
The 2017 market season is sponsored by community partner St. Peter’s Healthcare System. “As a small nonprofit, we could not do the work we do without the generous support of sponsors like St. Peter’s University Hospital,” said Ms. Hersh. “Their support of this year’s market goes a long way to helping promote good health and a healthy community.”
“Saint Peter’s University Hospital is pleased to partner with Highland Park in health and wellness initiatives, added Tabiri M. Chukunta, MDiv, DMin, DRCC, Executive Director, Community Outreach and Diversity at Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. “Providing services to the community is at the core of our mission.”
“Every year we have more and more vendors,” said Kim Vanarthos, Main Street Highland Park’s Farmers Market manager, “We are excited to bring back our vendors from previous years as well as bring new vendors into the mix this year.”
One of the largest markets in the state, the Market offers a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, baked goods, flowers, cheeses, pickles, meats, and more. This year’s vendors include:
Produce Vendors:
- Jeff’s Organic Produce
- Melick’sTown Farm – fresh produce, honey, apple cider, baked goods, flowers
- R&K – fresh produce and eggs
- Skeba Farms – fresh produce, flowers
- Von Thun’s Farm – fresh produce
Food & Artisan Vendors:
- Baker’s Bounty – variety of baked goods including breads, cookies, granola, pies, focaccia, muffins, brownies, rugelach
- Capsaicin Chiles– hot sauce, capsaicin chile powder, nuts, great samples
- Cheech’s Own– organic, fairtrade bottled iced and cold-brewed coffee
- Cherry Grove Farm– cheeses, meats, poultry
- Cream Ridge Winery– all natural, hand-crafted wines (samples, too!)
- Doc Pickle– pickles, olives, sauerkraut, peppers
- Fantastik Thai – fresh cooked Thai food
- Global Grace Café – soups, salads, and entrees prepared by featured chefs from India, Syria, Jamaica, Uganda or Indonesia; all proceeds go to support the Highland Park-based Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Services and Empowerment program.
- Gourmet Nuts & Dried Fruits – wide selection of dried fruits & nuts
- Hoboken Farms– fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, breads, sausage, chicken, fish
- House of Treasures– all natural skincare products without the toxins
- Lazos America Unida– non-profit organization representing and advocating on behalf of Mexican American community. Selling crafts and items made by artisans living in rural southern Mexico
- LulaRoe Fashion – simply comfortable clothing
- Meme’s Apothecary– herbs and herbal products for body, mind & spirit, vintage clothing & used books
- New Athens Corner – fresh bread, marmalade, spanikopita, hand made dough w/various fillings (greek cheese and smoked ham, vegetables or tomato and mozzarella) sesame snacks
- Nice ‘n Sharp– knife sharpener (every other week – schedule to follow)
- Patricia & Paul– fine oils and balsamic vinegars
- Puppy Pies Bakery– home baked treats for our furry friends
- Squeezed Fresh NJ – freshly squeezed classic lemonade, strawberry, blue raspberry, and iced tea mixed with lemonade
…and more!
Additionally, Highland Park flower shop Robert’s Florals to offer free potted marigolds to the first 200 shoppers. “We’d like to thank Robert’s Florals for being such a great community partner,” said Ms. Vanarthos. “We’re so grateful to have them as our Opening Day Market Sponsor.” Additionally, Main Street will be selling 20th anniversary tote bags that shoppers can use to fill with Jersey Fresh treats.
The market is a certified Jersey Fresh farmers market, meaning that all market vendors are New Jersey-based farms and businesses. “Many people don’t know that New Jersey grows more than 100 different varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs, and also ranks as a top 10 as producer of such items as blueberries, peaches, bell peppers, squash, tomatoes and cranberries,” said Ms. Hersh. “We want the Highland Park market to embody the “Garden State” theme, bringing all of the fruits of New Jersey’s labors to downtown Highland Park every week.”
The Highland Park Farmers Market operates every Friday through December 15 (except for Friday November 24, the Friday after Thanksgiving) from 11:00 am – 5:30 pm, and is located in the heart of downtown Highland Park, on Raritan Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. WIC and Senior FMNP vouchers are accepted by some farmers. All Highland Park residents eligible to participate in the Highland Park food pantry receive vouchers that can be used as cash to purchase fruits and vegetables at the Farmers Market.
Many market days feature local musicians; on opening day local musician Josh Siegel will be entertaining shoppers. Additionally, there will be a Tomato Festival at the market on Friday July 28, featuring cooking demonstrations and other tomato-themed activities. The market will also go until 7pm during the Tomato Festival.
Main Street Highland Park is a designated Main Street program of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. For additional information, please call (732) 828-8444 or visit www.mainstreethp.org or www.facebook.com/MainStreetHP