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Asbury Fresh will open its sixth season in downtown Asbury Park Thursday with a 7 to 10 p.m. kickoff mixer on the rooftop at Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten, located at 527 Lake Ave.

The free event is an opportunity for the seasonal vendors to spend time with the public and showcase what’s to come.

And while the farmers and artisans market opened in 2012 with eight featured vendors, it’s grown to include well over 60 curated vendors offering everything from baked goods, handmade jewelry and soap to home décor items and plants.

The assortment of foods includes certified organic and pesticide free produce, seafood, fresh milled ancient grains, free range eggs, and meats.

There’s also live entertainment and demonstrations.

Asbury Fresh was the brainchild of Cowerks and Humble Humans digital agency founders and partners Bret Morgan Danny Croak and Gregory Edgerton. 

The Fresh Markets team continues expansion this season with not only a second satellite location, the first being in Belmar last year but with an extended local seasonal schedule and a new product manager.

Joining the roster will be a Bradley Beach Fresh Market in Riley Park, running 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays from June 1 through  Aug 31.

The Belmar Fresh Market returns 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays from May 27 to Sept. 2 in Pyanoe Plaza at Main Street and Ninth Avenue.  

A part of the Asbury Park scene for over five years, Middletown native Brian Sienkiewicz [at right] takes on the day to day operations of all three markets. Many may recognize Sienkiewicz from his Wood Vibrations Restorations vendor booth at the market for the past three years.

And while the 35-year-old will continue to upcycle reclaimed wood into great decor pieces, he has jumped into the new position of curating vendor, entertainment and demos for the three markets, and is set to launch, in partnership with the Asbury Park School District, a paid internship and separate volunteer program for high school aged students.

“I used to work in the nonprofit world with a work readiness program for at-risk youth and special needs students,” he said. “I’ve been meeting with the high school over the past couple months to launch a work readiness program.”

That launch will occur in June, with the paid internships sponsored by Ironbound Farms of North Hunderton County under the Jersey Cider Works umbrella.

“The students will get paid to get on the job skills while they are meeting vendors and learning the different trades,” Sienkiewicz said.

This year Asbury Fresh extends from 16 weeks to a full 28 week season, Sienkiewicz said.

Held from 10 a.m .to 3 p.m. Sundays through mid-November in Kennedy Park, located at the corner of Cookman and Grand avenues, the 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday market will run from June 10 through September 23, Sienkiewicz said.

Demos, this year, include the Asbury Fresh June 4 Women’s Self Defense by Pelligrino MMA. There’s also a Surfrider sponsored make your own rain barrel event planned for the Bradley Beach Market, and plans in the works to add a fire dancer and tango lessons to the regular yoga class roster of interactive events.   

The Asbury Park season kicks off 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mother’s Day in Kennedy Park.

“Falling on Mother’s Day, it is the perfect place to bring mom to enjoy local food, art, music and much more,” Sienkiewicz said.

Among the returning vendors are Rolling Hills Farm, Local 130 Seafood, Cream Ridge Winery and Epoch Trading Post. New to the roster are Sugar Maple Jerseys, Davidson Exotic Mushrooms, IronBound Hard Cider and Rella Works.

Vendors interested in participating and for more information visit Fresh Market’s website here, or their Facebook and Instagram pages.

[Photos courtesy of Asbury Fresh]

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