| News | | June 2010... Did you know.... | | 6.15.2010 |  Did you know…
NJ is the number 1 producer of eggplant and Parsley in the USA? It’s True and you can find both in abundance at the Elizabeth Avenue Farmers Market this season…
It all starts in June when the EAP presents it’s 8th Annual Elizabeth Avenue Farmers Market, featuring homegrown, “Jersey Fresh” Produce, pies, baked goods and variety of specialty items.
The Elizabeth Avenue Farmers Market will run every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June 15th through November 30th and is located at Historic Union Square Plaza between First Avenue and High Street where the old Peterstown Market was held years ago. An official “Opening Day” Ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, June 29th at 11 a.m. Two preview Markets will run on Tuesday, June 15th and 22nd.
Mayor Chris Bollwage will join the Elizabeth Avenue Partnership (EAP) Board of Directors for the opening celebration, which will also include music, giveaways, children’s entertainment, free strawberry smoothies courtesy of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension and distribution of Senior Vouchers by the The Union County Division on Aging.
Alstede Farms from Chester, NJ will be the “anchor” farm stand once again, offering customers freshly harvested “Jersey Fresh” fruits and vegetables from the “Garden State which was blessed with perfect weather this spring.
“It has been an outstanding spring thus far and all of the crops look great,” said owner Kurt Alstede. “It has been warmer than normal and recently a little bit dryer than normal which always makes for a better growing season. Crop harvest is running about 10 days to two weeks ahead of schedule which means that there will be a greater variety of items available sooner this year at the farmers’ market,” he said.
According to Dave Strochak, The Original Delancy Street Peanut Company will join the market once again featuring a wide assortment of nuts, dried fruits and toffees. Other vendors offering Organic fruits, vegetables, coffee, honey and muffins are expected to make appearances throughout the season.
As usual, an abundance of produce will be available at the Market this season as Alstede Farms has increased its stand, and will offer more than 200 different vegetables and 40 varieties of colorful peppers, including early season favorites such as asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, radishes, peas, arugala, cabbage, beans, summer squash and a large assortment of herbs.
“We are pleased with our crop quality and look forward to having delicious Jersey peaches and sweet corn by mid July and Jersey Tomatoes by the end of the month. Our 50 acres of sweet corn produce 750,000 ears each year and our five acres of stake tomatoes are looking real good right now,” Alstede said.
According to Farmer Kurt, there is no longer a need to wait until late July for those Tomatoes since they have dedicated an entire greenhouse to tomato production this year.
“We have fresh picked vine ripened tomatoes with the same great taste and texture as a real Jersey tomato,” he said.
Alstede also expects to have an abundance of fresh fruit this season from his 500-acre Morris County farm which contains more than 4,000 apple trees, 800 peach trees, 100 pear trees, 100 nectarine trees, 50 plum trees, as well as numerous cherry trees.
“We also have over 10 acres of strawberries, 6 acres of raspberries, and plantings of currants, gooseberries, and blackberries,” he said. “So make sure to stock up this season and build up that immune system, as these berries are very high in antioxidants and vitamin C.” “Remember, June is Strawberry season, so stock up early.”
Alstede Farms is also in the process of receiving their official certification for organic production from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
“We will be offering organic vegetables later this season.”
With the help of the City of Elizabeth and the Elizabeth Development Company, the Peterstown Farmers Market area has undergone significant renovations along its streetscapes, sidewalks and tree lines. To build a fun family atmosphere at the Farmers Market, the EAP has also utilized Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) funds to host outdoor entertainment to coincide with Market days such as free pony rides, clowns, mariachis, flamenco dancers, free cooking demonstrations and live DJ’s.
“I encourage you to shop at the Farmers Market each Tuesday for Jersey Fresh homegrown produce,” said Bollwage. It’s a standard stop for me each week as my family looks forward to the fresh fruits and vegetables I bring home for dinner that night.”
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