"Eat Local" Holiday Farmers' Market

By Pat Tanner

The term “winter farmers’ market” may seem like a cruel joke in the Garden State, but there are plenty of local, seasonal products available throughout even the coldest months. To take advantage of this, Slow Food Central New Jersey and a group of like-minded organizations are sponsoring monthly “Eat Local” indoor markets. The next one – just in time for the holidays – is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 13 at the beautiful Johnson Education Center at the D&R Greenway in Princeton.

Those of us who mourn the end of each farm season can snatch up locally produced cheeses, breads, poultry, jams, mushrooms, condiments, meat, pies, pickles, and, of course, fresh fruits and vegetables – even wine and holiday greenery.

Terhune Orchards, Valley Shepherd Creamery, Village Bakery, Krowicki Farm, Hopewell Valley Vineyard, Davidson’s Exotic Mushrooms, and ER & Son Organic Farm are among the participating vendors. There will be live music and cooking demos by local chefs each hour starting at 10:30 a.m. Shoppers can also check out the juried art exhibition by the Garden State Watercolor Society titled “A Brush with Nature.”

In January and March, the market will move to Tre Piani restaurant in Princeton’s Forrestal Village, while the February location is the Museum of Agriculture at Cook College in North Brunswick. The markets are a collaboration of Slow Food Central NJ, the Lawrenceville Main Street Farmers’ Market, the Rutgers Gardens Farmers’ Market, and the West Windsor Community Farmers’ Market.

The “Eat Local” Holiday Farmers’ Market will take place on Saturday, December 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the D&R Greenway Johnson Education Center off Rosedale Road in Princeton. Directions can be found at drgreenway.org/directions.htm. A $2 donation per group is suggested. For information visit slowfoodcentralnj.org, or call 609.577.5113.