New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher and Patricia Dombroski, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator are calling on Garden State residents and visitors to enjoy Jersey Fresh produce from one of the state’s 153 community farmers markets during Farmers Market Week, Aug. 5-11, and throughout the state’s growing season.
Newark has 3 farmers’ markets, 3 farm stands and a mobile youth farm stand providing farm fresh produce to Newarkers five days a week! On Tuesdays at the UMDNJ campus, Wednesdays at Washington Park across from the Newark’s main library and museum, and Thursdays at PSE&G plaza Newarkers can purchase direct from farmers and use their WIC or SFMNP benefits. Deep in the Ironbound on Tuesdays there is a market on Cortland Place with generous hours from 9-5pm where SNAP is accepted by Alparasco’s Farm. There are farm stands with Newark-grown produce on Tuesdays at Court Street Urban Farm (at MLK Blvd.) run by the Greater Newark Conservancy and at The Beth Garden across from Newark Beth Israel Medical Center on Lyons Avenue in the South Ward on Tuesday through Saturdays. Through August 16 the Newark Youth Farm Stand also has locations at 32 Prince Street, Newark YMCA on Broad Street and at the Newark Downtown District’s market. In the South Ward the SWAGProject sells from its farm 343 Meeker Ave. (at the corner of Peshine Ave) and the Franklin-St. John’s free farmers’ market exchange members enjoy Jersey-grown produce through America’s Grow-A-Row.
New this year, the Department of Agriculture teamed with the state Department of Transportation to create a list of public transportation options for visiting New Jersey Farmers Markets. That list can be found at state.nj.us/jerseyfresh/transportationoptionsNJFarmersMarkets.pdf. For public transportation options to Newark markets see our blog posts:
Tuesdays http://wp.me/p1Tr2o-4R and http://wp.me/p1Tr2o-3V
Wednesdays http://wp.me/p1Tr2o-5p
Thursdays http://wp.me/p1Tr2o-4y
The Secretary of Agriculture is promoting Jersey Fresh fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products because they can go a long way to improving overall health. Eating locally also is a good choice for protecting the environment by reducing the miles a meal travels between farm and fork, lessening fuel consumption. In addition, choosing locally grown products helps keep New Jersey farmers on their land, preserving the Garden State’s quality of life.
Right now Newark and Jersey Fresh produce is at the peak of the season with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables available, including sweet corn, tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, peppers, eggplant, squash, basil, melons, beets, cabbage, collards, Swiss chard, arugula, kale, leeks, cilantro, parsley, dill, mint, turnips and white potatoes.
To locate other nearby community farmers market, visit jerseyfresh.nj.gov.
To learn more about farmers market nutrition programs, visitnj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/prog/communityfarmers.html#1. Stay tuned for more news about Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program voucher distribution in Newark and Food Stamp/SNAP acceptance at more Newark markets soon!
If you have questions about Newark’s farm fresh produce, contact Food Policy Director, Elizabeth Reynoso reynosoe@ci.newark.nj.us.
City of Newark - Office of Sustainability 