Freehold Farmers Markets Resume This Week

For summer cooking it is hard to beat fruits and vegetables fresh off of the farm and this week two farmer’s markets are opening for the season providing a wide variety of items for shoppers.

CentraState Medical Center will be holding a weekly market every wednesday until August 28 starting this week. It will be held at the Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus located at 901 W. Main Street and will feature fruits, vegetables, honey and baked goods among other choices.

Weather permitting the market will be open from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Some of the vendors include From the Garden, Rifkin Farms, The Farm, Clayton Farms, Kaufman Farms, Shangri La Farm and the Artisserie Bakery.

Downtown Freehold will also be holding a weekly market starting on Friday and running through October. The downtown event runs from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the rotunda of the Hall of Records.

Much like the event at the hospital, the downtown market will feature fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs, greens as well as flowers, local honey, organic skin care and other locally made goods. Returning vendors from the past include Trapper’s Honey, Nan’s Naturals, Kauffman Farms, Hause Hills Farms, Rocky Brook Farm and The Farm.

In addition to the Friday dates there will also be two Saturday events that will be announced later. Christina DeGulis, Marketing and Events Coordinator for Downtown Freehold said the organization is excited for the market season to open. “It’s wonderful to see folks who return week after week, and year after year, to our farmers market, as well as to see many new shoppers who appreciate supporting our local farmers and crafters, as well as the tasty benefits of locally cultivated foods.”

No matter what shoppers are looking for DeGulis said she is excited to give them a place to go to find local vendors. “Locavorism is a trend that is here to stay and is growing.”