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Spring is in full bloom and summer is just around the corner, indicating the season for  local farm markets is upon us.

Within the next week, local farmers and artisans will start packing their wares and taking them out to the surrounding community markets, bringing local food sources that much closer to home.

Asbury Park has three farmers markets: the Jersey Fresh Market, The Carousel Farmers Market and the Asbury Fresh market. When combined, the three bring a variety of fresh produce, local artisans and musicians together three separate days a week from mid-June to September.

The Carousel Farmer’s Market

For its fifth-year anniversary, the Carousel Farmer’s Market is returning to the space just outside the iconic structure itself. The previous two years the market had relocated to the green space on the boardwalk between First and Ocean avenues.

Leslie Feingold, market manager and creator, said they moved to the green space to get more exposure.

“When we first started there was nothing happening here,” said Feingold. “The boardwalk was just coming into place, there was minimal foot traffic and the beaches weren’t crowded.”

All of the farmers that vend at the carousel market are hyper-local; from no further than Howell.

“I don’t care if it says organic, if it’s 3000 miles away in California that’s still a 3000-mile carbon footprint,” said Feingold.

Feingold describes the market as a “unique boutique.” She says it offers an “eclectic” atmosphere featuring music from local musicians, fresh produce from The Berry Farm, Quail Field Farm and Neptune Farms, organic produce from Merrick Farm, hand-made and hand-sewn products, pickles, knife and scissor sharpening services, cupcakes, herbal bath and body items and even hot sauce made by Feingold and her boyfriend.

Pleasant Valley Lavender Farm, the only lavender farm in New Jersey according to Feingold, also has a presence at the market.

The market opens June 27 and runs every Thursday from 4 p.m. to dusk. For now, it is a weather-permitting market – if it rains the market doesn’t happen – but Feingold says she would like to eventually have some markets inside of the carousel structure itself. Her eventual goal is to make it a year-round market.

More information can be found by clicking on The Carousel Farmer’s Market Facebook page.

[Carrots pictured above courtesy of The Carousel Farmer’s Market Facebook page.]

Asbury Fresh 

Asbury Fresh is the youngest market in town, back this year for a second season in Kennedy Park, located on the corner of Cookman and Grand avenues right next to Ivan & Andy’s Prime.

The market was started by Bret Morgan of Lake Avenue-based businesses Cowerks and Bands on a Budget. Morgan operates the market this year along with co-manager Michelle Zarella [both shown below left, image courtesy Nina Saporta/BandsOnABudget.com].

Morgan said the market was born out of a need to access healthy, fresh food, without having to drive to get it.

“I don’t live in the downtown, I just work here all the time,” said Morgan. “A lot of people in town who work or live here don’t have cars.”

In the market’s second season, the two co-managers have expanded Asbury Fresh to include more local artists and artisan vendors.

Asbury Fresh will feature fresh, local produce from Hazlett and Shangrila Farms, as well as a variety of artisan products from Smiling Earth Elixirs, Lovin Lunch Box, Trisha’s Treasures, and Queen Lorene’s Bread and Jams, among others, according to Zarella.

“We wanted to open the market up this year and add some variety,” said Morgan. “Asbury Fresh is all about community, and ours has an amazing amount of diverse talents; we want all of them to have a place where they can be represented.”

The June 23 market kicks off the Asbury Fresh season. Markets will run every Sunday through September from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine.

The kickoff market will feature workshops and an acoustic performance by local musician Justine Hudak and a free hula hoop workshop for all ages by Jodi Korbin of Release Yoga Studio, according to a recent press release.

At markets later in the season, expect other artists and workshops as well as pets for adoption through the Monmouth County Humane Society, the release said.

“It’s getting harder and harder as a small business to compete with an Amazon or a Monsanto,” said Morgan. “There are big chains that can do things faster and cheaper, and I don’t want to say better but in a more efficient way,” he said. “But there are ways people can succeed and I think a small local market is one of the ways. You’re going to be able to see how small businesses can compete with big retailers.”

More information can be found by visiting the Asbury Fresh website, or following Asbury Fresh’s Facebook page.

Asbury Park Main Street Market 

The Main Street Market held in Fireman’s Park (just across Main Street from Sunset Park between 5th and Sunset avenues) is Asbury Park’s longest running farmers market.

“The market has been there for 12 years,” said Tom Gilmour, director of commerce and economic development for the city and Main Street Market manager. “Our idea was to get a vibrant farmers market in the city and reach all residents.”

The market was originally funded by the state’s Urban Enterprise Zone Program, Gilmour explained. The program is an urban renewal and growth program offered through the department of community affairs, according to the state’s website.

Back then, there were no local farmers markets. To this day, Gilmour says, “there are very few places you can buy fresh, local produce in the city.”

The market is no longer funded by the state.

“It’s pretty self-sustaining now,” said Gilmour. Vendors pay a fee to be a seasonal or weekly member of the market. For vendors who are interested in having a presence at the market but are unsure whether it will be profitable, Gilmour is happy to oblige.

“I let the farmers come for free to see,” said Gilmour. After the initial free tryout, farmers can decide if they want to pay the vendor fee to come back or not, according to Gilmour.

Five produce vendors and one plant and flower vendor will have a market presence this year. All of the vendors are New Jersey-based farms.

Produce and flower farms are the only vendors at the market right now, but market-goers can expect some craft people from time to time throughout the season, said Gilmour.

What sets the Main Street Market apart, according to Gilmour, is the focus on produce.

“[O]ur real charge is to create a farmer’s market and not have a lot of other things in there,” said Gilmour. “And people recognize that – they drive by and see we have lots of fresh produce.”

“People should come and support it just like local business,” he added. “We make an effort to bring farmers in here and it is important that people come out and support them.”

Patrons can start heading to the Main Street Market in Fireman’s Park starting this Saturday, June 15,  and every Saturday thereafter from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. until October 26, weather permitting.

For more information, call 732.502.5749 to learn more about the Main Street Farmer’s Market.

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