The Trenton Farmers Market was started by local farmers in the early 1900’s. Locals would haul their goods in by horse and buggy and sell them on the side of the road. Since then, the market’s moved into a new facility in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. It operates year-round. In colder weather, the market operates indoors and in the summer, you will find vendors inside and out.
Not every vendor makes it to market every day, and of course in winter you’ll find less produce, but there are fruits and vegetables all year long. The market also has meat, breads and cakes, and seafood. Non-food items include housewares and clothing, and you can even get your watches repaired. The food court lets you start eating before you get home; you’ll find fried chicken and ribs, or more sophisticated crepes.
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Farm Fresh
The fruits and vegetables aren’t all organic, but all are fresh from the New Jersey farms where they’re grown. Winter offerings from Pineland Farms include apples, sweet potatoes, and squash, as well as some greenhouse-grown plants. They bring apple cider, too. Terhune Orchards sells a wide selection of pies in addition to their fresh fruit.
Cranberry Hall Farms sells vegetables and meat as well, with both beef and pork that are 100% meat. Cartlidge’s Quality Meats will butcher for you right at the Trenton Farmers Market, cutting steaks and sirloin. They also have free range chicken and fresh eggs. If you crave ethnic meats, Pulaski Meats specializes in German, Polish, and Russian sausages and hams. They’ll chat with you in each of those languages, too.
Baked Goods
Pennsylvania Dutch folks set up at the market to sell their baked goods in the Amish Country Store booth. Besides their famous Amish pies, they sell spices, eggs, and dairy products so you can do you own baking at home.
Franca Bakery and Stoltzfus Family Bakery are both family-run New Jersey bakeries with more treats for sale at the Trenton Farmers Market.
Great BBQ, Too
Hambone Opera is a barbecue stand that serves some of the best ribs and pulled pork in the entire state. Jeffery McKay uses New Jersey wild cherry and other hardwoods to give his dishes a deep rich flavor. The smoking process takes a good twelve to thirteen hours to complete, and the results are outstanding.
If all the great food you pick up at the market has you feeling like a winner, stop in at Win, Place & Smoke to pick up a lottery ticket. Maybe you’ll win enough green to buy all your greens at the Trenton Farmers Market the rest of the year.
The Trenton Farmers Market is held in the market building at 960 Spruce Street in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. The market is run by the Trenton Market Growers Co-op. They can be reached 609-695-2998. During the winter, the market is open Thursday through Saturday. Some months it’s open Sundays, and there are extra hours around the holidays, so check the schedule before heading out. Check the market website for current market hours and a full list of vendors to plan your shopping list before visiting. For other NJ farmers markets, click here.
