Jersey Fresh Farmers’ Market Open Fridays Through September

Looking for fresh food to put on your table? The Jersey Fresh Farmers’ Market of Lacey returns to the Community Hall parking lot today at noon.

The farmers' market has been held in Lacey for the past 10 years and has featured fresh produce including vegetables and fruit.

The participating farmers, who have participated in the market for the past seven years, includes Farmer Al’s, Korwicki’s, Cranberry Hall Farm, Eckert’s Corn and the Bread Man.

Most of the farmers provide a variety of “quality” fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, peaches, tomatoes, and cranberries while Eckert’s Corn exclusively sells corn.

“Primarily people come for the corn,” said John Kilmurray, the organizer of the event.

One of the highlights of the market is the Bread Man, Kilmurray said. The Bread Man provides “Italian treasures” — a variety of fresh Italian bread, cheeses, and special desserts.

Prices are competitive but the big draw for this event is that the produce is fresh, Kilmurray said.

“The Jersey Fresh logo sells itself. That’s the attraction of the market. They’re out in the morning picking the corn and produce. It comes right from their farm to you,” he said. “It’s fresh and people buy it in the afternoon and that night they’re cooking it.”

The farmers’ market began in 2001 by a group of volunteers led by Kathy Gartar and Barbara Schuetz. Both ladies fell ill and the responsibility fell on the township. Kilmurray was the Director of the Recreation Department then and got involved.

Once Kilmurray left his work with the township in 2010, he stuck with the farmers’ market. 

“I think it’s a really nice thing for the town and the town’s people,” he said. “The town has been very cooperative.”

The farmers' market will be held on Fridays, July 13 through September 14 from noon to 5 p.m. at Community Hall at the intersection of Route 9 and Lacey Road.