Farm Stands, Farmers Markets Open to Offer Local Bounty

The taste — and even fresh aroma — of vegetables and fruits picked nearby is something that's easily forgotten during months of settling for packaged and frozen produce before the growing season begins in New Jersey.

Well, the season is here for farm stands and farmers markets to set up in the Basking Ridge and Bernardsville area, even if the corn, tomatoes, potatoes and other produce grown right on local farms is only beginning to come in off the fields.

Crane Farm at 270 S. Maple Ave. in Basking Ridge opened at the beginning of May, and is selling much of the bounty of the Garden State, although as of the end of last week, garlic scapes were the only offering coming straight from the farm. (Of course, such farm-made specialities such as jam and pesto were also available.)

The Bernardsville Farmers Market just opened for the season last Saturday, June 15, in a parking lot next to the Bernardsville Train Station, across from the Station Pub & Grub.

That market also was selling produce likely to have been grown in South Jersey this weekend. But soon tomatoes, berries, corn and more grown nearby can be had when the market is open each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through mid-November.

The Bernardsville Farmers Market also sells gourmet and specialty foods, including baked goods, pickles, Polish food — the Griggstown Quail Farm and Market's weekly specialties, which can include quail eggs, homemade chicken pot pies and fruit pies.

Many people from the Somerset Hills travel slightly north to Wightman Farm, just north over the Morris County border in Harding Township. 

That farm is probably best known for its fall pumpkin and apple-picking, but other seasonal produce from Wightman's freshen its showroom at this time of year. The preserved farm's website said that strawberries are ripe for the picking. Visitors were able to pick their own strawberries last weekend.

The English Farm's stand opens on Friday

The English Farm at 3601 Valley Road in the Liberty Corner section of Bernards Township will officially open its farm stand at 11 a.m. this Friday — even though the farm sells freshly laid eggs throughout the year.

The now-preserved farm property has been owned by the English family and farmed since the early 1700s — and even was the site of a soldiers encampment during the American Revolution.

The farm soon will begin selling its usual tomatoes, sweet corn, squash and much more, said Carol English, one of the farm's owners.

Organic vegetables and herbs will come from Harrison Brook Farm, next door to the public farm stand, that is certified organic and is also owned by members of the English family, she said.

Produce that isn't grown on the farm itself will be "as local as possible," English said.

Because the property is a fully working farm, English said that visitors enjoy bringing their children to visit barnyard animals, including pigs, rabbits and chickens.

English said the farm stand will be open every day except Tuesday. Hours on weekdays are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, she said.

Crane Farm's hours

Crane Farm is open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sundays, 9 to 5 p.m.

Other area businesses also are selling more local produce and other small farm stands spring up as specific produce — such as tomatoes, apples and corn — ripen later during the season.

Please let us know in the comments section below about other places where you buy locally grown vegetables, fruits and herbs.