Sunset Avenue market. at Main and Sunset. Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm. Across from Sunset Park. Farmers markets are community events which enhance lifestyles. 7/1/17. All photos by Paul Goldfinger © Click image to enlarge.
Sunset Avenue farmers market. A. Park comes alive with fresh foods. © 7/1/17
It’s also a flower market. Surprise your family and place flowers on your dining room table. A. Park 7/1/17©
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net
The reason why the Saturday farmers market in Asbury Park did not open until today is that the farmers weren’t ready. As more crops appear, more vendors will show up. Today there were about 8, and they had fresh eggs, tomatoes, piri-piri sauce, breads from Paterson, flowers, vegetables and many other items.
But the best part, as with all farmers markets, was the sense of community. Parking was easy, dogs came along, and the vibe was one of happiness and chit-chat.
We have visited farmers markets in Florida, Martha’s Vineyard, Manhattan, and Rhinebeck, and they all have that element of conradarie and sharing of food. After all, sharing food is sharing love, and growing food goes back about 12,000 years.
Eileen got to discuss eggs with Leslie of piri-piri sauce fame, while I got to talk sociology with the Italian baker who came to the US in 1966 and never left the Paterson area. We bought one of his fine traditional baguettes.
Leslie said that she knew the crew from Moonlight Acres Farm and she thought they would “be a good fit” for Ocean Grove.
Leslie used to inhabit the Carousel market on the A. Park Boardwalk, but that venue closed. However she “brought over” some of her people to Sunset and Main (Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm.) Leslie is the proprietor of Wildcraft, a charming shop for herbs and teas at 1213 Main St. in AP.
One of the vendors told me that working a farm is difficult, and as the demand for farmers markets across the country grows, it becomes harder to find farmers to participate in markets like this.
We will return as we always do—–lots of photo ops while Eileen shops.