Market report: Haddonfield Farmer’s Market

Saturday, September 29, 2007

There’s nothing like putting things off until the very last minute!  Today, on the second to last day of the September Eat Local Challenge, I visited the Haddonfield, NJ Farmer’s Market.  I’ve never been there before and never purchased anything from any of the vendors present, so it counts toward trying one new resource.  The market is in the parking lot of the Haddonfield PATCO stop.  While small (I estimate about six or seven vendors selling food), there was a lovely selection of produce.  There are other vendors who regularly offer their products who were not there today, including Butcher Bloc and Red Barn.

I purchased scallions and the last leeks from the super friendly chicks from Flaim Family Farm.  They had at least a half dozen eggplant varieties, absolutely gorgeous carrots and beets, all manner of fresh herbs, beautiful salad greens, and a bevy of other vegetables and fruit.

Haynicz’s Orchard View Farms was selling a great array of apples and pears, as well as peach and apple cider.  My eyes lit up when I saw the peach cider.  I’ve never had it before, and it sounds wonderful!  It’s currently chilling in my refrigerator.

Triple Oaks Nursery was selling over half a dozen varieties of heirloom tomatoes, the only one of which I recognized was the Green Zebra.  They were all very pretty, though, and incredible-looking!  I also saw some fresh cut flowers for sale.

Busy Bee Farms was selling honey and soap.  I just purchased some buckwheat honey from Linvilla Orchards, so I didn’t really need more - but it was so tempting to just buy another jar.  It looked so good, and I overheard the vendor talking to a customer about his blueberry honey. Yum!

Versailles Bakery had a mouth-watering selection of locally made breads, bagels, and pastries.  The olive rolls were too good to pass up, and I walked away with two of them.

My husband purchased some dog treats from Cafe Woof.  While the ingredients are not locally sourced, they are locally made and my dog loved them!

The Haddonfield Farmer’s Market is open from 9am-1pm on Saturdays.  October 27 will be the last day for the market this season, and it’s easily accessible.  Only seven miles from Philadelphia, it’s a quick drive over the bridge or a quick train ride on PATCO.

Coincidentally, there’s another farmer’s market really close by, and also just as easily accessible via public transit.  That’s the Collingswood Farmer’s Market.  It’s also open on Saturdays, but from 8am until noon.  Better yet, Collingswood market is open until Thanksgiving.  The market offers locally grown and heirloom breed (free range, antiobiotic free) turkeys from Griggstown Quail Farm in Princeton, as well.