HOWELL The seasonal farmers market in Howell Township has returned and will be open every weekend over the summer. Every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a small gathering of food trucks and vendors gathers at Echo Lake Park, which is off Maxim Southard Road.
Numerous small enterprises run by locals and those in the neighborhood can be found at the farmers market. Some merchants stay the same and have established themselves as mainstays at the farmers market, while others change from week to week. On average, there are about 15 sellers at the market, though there may be many more on some weeks.
Jennifer Perkel is the manager and organizer of Howell’s Farmers Market, one of a few. Perkel is in charge of organizing the farmers markets in Allenhurst, Atlantic Highlands, Jackson, Hazlet, and Sea Bright in addition to Howell.
The Sourdough Streets, a cottage bakery stand that sells sourdough baked items, is one of the market’s most well-liked vendors. Desiree Ruas, the owner, and other stand owners at the market said that this particular stand has grown so well-liked that it typically runs out of merchandise within the first two hours of the market opening. All of Ruas’s products are baked at her home, which has been transformed into a micro-bakery where customers may pick up baked goods right off the curb. For the past two years, she has been showcasing her skills at the farmers market, and she has developed a tiny client base that visits the market weekly to purchase her wares.
The Nuts For Birds stall is another typical sight at the farmers market. Erin Cook, the proprietor, and her son Matthew create environmentally friendly gourmet bird cakes and feeders that will draw in local birds without causing any damage to the ecosystem. To save customers from constantly purchasing new feeders, they sell feeders that can have replacement cakes purchased for them. Additionally, they provide a variety of feeder designs that are based on the various colors of woods like birch, oak, and so on.
There are also a few flower and gardening sellers at the market. Among those vendors is The Jersey Plant Guys. One of the employees claims that they mostly work with perennials, which resurrect each spring or summer. Several of these flowers were available for purchase at their farmers market stand. They also provide landscaping, installation, and garden consultations.
Cecille Flower Farm is an additional flower merchant. The owner’s garden grows a wide variety of flowers that are used in the bouquets sold by this small-scale flower farm/vendor. The purpose of these bouquets is to provide color and liven up a space.
Kauffman Farms, which has been a family-run business since 1961, is one of the real farms that has established itself as a regular market seller. They started selling their goods on their farmhouse in 1987, but it wasn’t until 2002 that they started selling at farmers markets and wholesale. They now sell fresh produce in the market every week, including carrots, tomatoes, and much more, thanks to their strong relationship with Perkel, the market manager.
There are more than just stands at the market. Howell’s market has featured food trucks, coffee trucks, and even a few live performances by local bands all year long.
Perkel talked about some of the farmers market’s plans. She underlined that in order to regularly have a higher turnout, they must spread the word more. She also talked about how they are working on various ideas to make her aim of making the farmers market a year-round event a reality.
With the exception of severe weather, the Farmers Market will be open every Sunday until October 26. The season began on May 18.
