Metuchen Farmers Market

The Metuchen Farmers Market has been in existence since 1997, but has enjoyed a revitalization starting 2011, when it grew from a few farmers to more than a dozen top-notch vendors. Managed entirely by community volunteers, the market hosts four “Jersey Fresh” farmers and other food-first vendors offering cheese, pickles, olives, fresh-baked breads, mozzarella, arepas, dried fruits/nuts, grass-fed pork, free-range eggs, farmhouse-baked pies and more.

Our farmers range from long-time New Jersey growers like Farmer Al’s and Von Thun’s to the newly-started woman-farmed transitional-to-organic Whistling Wolf Farm. The variety of vegetables and fruits offered for sale every week is astonishing and mouth-watering.

In addition to being a market in the commercial sense of buying-selling, the Metuchen Farmers Market embraces opportunities to enhance the community fabric. For instance, the Market has initiated a program where farmers donate excess produce to worthy causes such as Kiddie Keep Well Camp in Edison (thanks Bob Von Thun!) and the Metuchen First Presbyterian Church’s food pantry (thanks Walt Zyck of Country Stand Farm!). We also offer a free table to community non-profit organizations so they can do outreach: participants include(d) Women Helping Women, Metuchen EMS, Borough Improvement League, Friends of the Metuchen Public Library, Metuchen High School Garden Club, Build With Purpose, Shade Tree Commission and Bike|Walk Metuchen. Finally, we aspire to support local businesses, whether they are currently Chamber of Commerce members (they get a free weekly table as well) or are a business that is thinking of establishing a store-front in Metuchen and can use a Farmers Market stall to “test the market”.

The Farmers Market has added a great “buzz” to summer Saturdays in downtown Metuchen. We look forward to seeing you there!

Nelson Li, Market Manager on behalf of the Farmers Market (Volunteer) Committee, the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce and the Borough of Metuchen.