BERGEN COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKETS

Welcome to the height of the season at all of the farmers’ markets! Peaches, blueberries, cherries, cantaloupe, watermelon, corn, squash, cucumbers, beans, carrots, mushrooms, celery, leeks, onions, scallions, lettuce, spinach, peppers, beets, and carrots. And don’t forget the home baked breads, cookies, and pies, as well as the handmade wine, freshly made pickles, and mozzarella cheese. Now is the time to eat what nature has provided us fresh from the farm!
I planned to visit every farmers’ market in Bergen County and eat only fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, breads, and desserts purchased at the markets for seven days. Honestly, the lettuce on a Big Mac qualifies as a vegetable for me, but I set my goal and I was determined to reach it. Well, I’ve never felt better and I’m down four pounds! Visit them all.

Sunday
Fort Lee: (8am-2pm) Located at the Community Center off Anderson Ave. There’s one farm stand that sells fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as plants; there’s fresh breads, fresh mozzarella, pickles and more.

Emerson: (9am-2pm) Located at the train station on Kinderkermack Rd. The Orchards of Conklin from Rockland County has a stand offering their delicious freshly made pies and donuts, as well as their fresh fruits. There are two farm stands with a large selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. One stand offers white and yellow carrots which are sweeter than the orange ones. The other stand sells freshly picked mushrooms that are the freshest mushrooms I’ve ever tasted. There’s pickles, and freshly made mozzarellas and breads.

Ridgewood: (9am-3pm) Located at the Ridgewood Train Station. There’s a fresh honey stand for honey lovers, homemade jams, fresh breads and pies, pickles, and of course, a huge selection of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as a large selection of fresh herbs.

Tenafly: (9am-2pm) Located in the parking lot at the corner of Tenafly Road and Washington Street. Large selection of organic fruits, vegetables and they have an organic bread stand. In addition to the organic stands, there are two large vegetable stands, a plant/flower stand, freshly made goat’s milk cheeses, a featured artist, and a kids’ art table.

Tuesday
Hasbrouck Heights: (12pm-6pm) Located on the corner of Boulevard and Washington Place. There are two farm stands offering fruits and vegetables, an organic bakery, pickles, mozzarella, breads, fresh ravioli, and a stand that sells organic handmade soap.

Wednesday
Hackensack: (11am-6pm) Located across from Sears in Johnson Park. There’s two farm stands with fresh fruits and vegetables, one Amish stand with homemade pies, cookies, jams; a mozzarella stand with fresh breads, and a pickle stand.

Thursday
Rivervale: (12pm-6pm) Located on Mark Lane off Piermont Ave. My FAVORITE farmers’ market. It’s huge! Here’s what they have: two fresh fruit and vegetable stands, one of which is Stokes Farm from Old Tappan; a handmade wine stand—with tastings! (If you like wine—try theirs!) A stand that offers handmade sodas and coffees; a stand with fresh handmade pasta sauces and pizzas; fresh Italian ice stand; pickles stand; an Amish stand with all the amazing homemade pies, pastries, jams; and a fresh mozzarella and bread stand.

Teaneck: (12pm-6pm) Located in the municipal parking lot off Cedar Lane (across from Bischoff’s). There’s two farm stands, but one of them is Amish and you have never seen such enormous vegetables or a stand so perfectly arranged with endless offerings. There’s also an Amish baked goods stand with all the homemade pies, cookies, jams. There’s also a mozzarella and bread stand, and a pickle stand.

Friday
Englewood: (11am-6pm) Located at Depot Square off N. Van Brundt St. There are two farm stands offering a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, an Amish stand with homemade baked goods, a mozzarella and bread stand, and pickles.

Come out to support our local farmers and buy fresh while you can. For a weekly listing of all the farmers’ markets and locations, visit the calendar at “Bergen County Mom to Mom.” Search Yahoo groups for “bergencountymomtomom.” Click on “Database” to see some of my favorite farmers’ market recipes.