Eating Local at Duke Farms

The Farm to Table Market at Duke Farms kicks off for the season Sunday, May 21, 2017 from 12pm to 5pm. Come visit and support over 25 local farms and businesses every Sunday until October 29, 2017.  

The Farm to Table Market is one of the many ways Duke Farms promotes sustainable agriculture. Participating farms use sustainable growing practices and protect New Jersey’s valuable agricultural lands. Three of the farmers joining the market this year are participating in Duke Farms’ Sustainable Farming Enterprise Program (SFEP). This program supports beginning farmers in the Garden State by providing land, equipment, housing, and expertise along with the opportunity sell at our market.  The program also covers all aspects of owning and operating a business including business plans and marketing.  Duke Farms’ Farm Barn Café sources food from our farmers for promotional recipes, Farm to Fork Dinners and catering events. Visit Green Duchess Farm, Hunter’s Family Farm and Soul Purpose Farm at the market to bring home meat, produce, and eggs raised right at Duke Farms.

Shopping at the farmers’ market means shopping and eating with the seasons. At the farmers’ market produce is grown locally and picked within days of the market. For opening day, our farmers will have plenty of savory spring produce ready to be enjoyed.  Spring favorites include asparagus, spinach, salad greens, strawberries, carrots and herbs. Fresh New Jersey summer favorites such as juicy tomatoes or crisp cucumbers won’t be plentiful at the market until they have time to grow and ripen in the field. Why wait to enjoy produce until it is locally in season? Seasonal fruits and vegetables picked ripe from the field are more nutritious and flavorful than food that travels long distances from the farm to the grocery store.  

At the Farm to Table Market we provide shoppers with a variety of ways to eat local. Chef Josh can always be found at the Duke Farms tent with a recipe featuring seasonal items from our farms and local businesses.  He can also be a resource for how to prepare something that may be unfamiliar.  Farmers themselves are another great resource at a farmers’ market!  Ask how produce is grown, about its flavor or how it can be used for cooking.  Chef Josh is also working on creating recipe boxes, which will provide a selection of fresh ingredients plus simple instructions to make a delicious meal at home.

Looking for the recipes from last year’s market season for inspiration? All of the recipes from the 2016 market season can be found here.

Want to know what’s seasonal and fresh in New Jersey this week? Check out Jersey Fresh’s Produce of the Week Report here.

Along with fresh produce, our local farmers and businesses will have meat, eggs, cheese, bread, sauces, salsas, pasta, hot sauce, jams, nut butters, honey, pickled and fermented vegetables and more. Many of our vendors source local produce for their jams, salsas and sauces. Special days at the market may include visits from animals, crafts, music and other special activities. Come out and enjoy a day at the market!

Here is a list of participating farms and businesses:

Alstede Farms - Fresh-made pies, apple cider donuts, apple cider & fresh produce

America's Kettle Corn - Fresh kettle corn

Better Butter** – Compound butters

Bon Nut Butters & Sweets - Handmade nut butters & spreads

Cheech’s Own Coffee – Cold brew, locally roasted coffee

Cherry Grove Farm - Pasture-raised meats & farmstead cheeses

Dogwood Farms - Fresh produce, meats, sauces and salsa

Green Duchess Farm* - Pasture-raised pork

Hoboken Farms - Fresh breads, sauces & prepared food

Hot Sauce for Good – Caldo Hot Sauce and Steak Sauce

Hunter’s Family Farm* – Fresh eggs and poultry

Jams by Kim - Handmade seasonally inspired jams & chutneys

Locktown Farm - Fermented foods and drinks

Nicola's Pasta Fresca - Fresh, locally sourced, handmade pasta

Patricia & Paul Artisans of Fine Oils and Balsamics - Olive oils and balsamics

Pickle Licious - Pickles, olives and more

Polnasek Poultry Farm - Fresh eggs and pasture-raised poultry

Rolling Hills Farm - Fresh spring vegetables and mushrooms

Simply Sweets by Lauren** - French macarons and cookie-wiches

Soul Purpose Farm* – Fresh produce, ethnic herbs and vegetables

Unionville Vineyards - Local wines

Wolgast Tree Farm and Apiary - Local honey, beeswax products & dog treats

WoodsEdge Farm - Alpaca wear, soaps & candles

 *Sustainable Farming Enterprise Program farmer

**Will participate every other week