New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn highlighted the availability of more Jersey Fresh produce with a visit to Hunter’s Farm and Market in Burlington County on Thursday morning.
The next week or two will be the final opportunity for consumers to purchase Jersey Fresh strawberries and asparagus as other crops such as zucchini, squash, tomatoes, blueberries, and sweet corn become available in the coming days and weeks.
“These on-farm markets, as well as community farmers markets, offer consumers a convenient method to purchase our outstanding Jersey Fresh produce that is picked at the peak of freshness,” Secretary Wengryn said. “These markets also allow for customers to interact with the growers so they can learn more about how their food is grown while also supporting the local economy.”
There are approximately 700 independent on-farm markets throughout the state, along with about 140 community farmers markets that convene weekly.
While the Jersey Fresh brand is celebrating its 40th year, Hunter’s Farm and Market is a bicentennial farm, with the family starting the business in 1760. The Hunters are John Hunter and his son John working the farm and handling the wholesale part of the operation, while the elder Hunter’s daughter Amy manages the market and retail side of the business. The younger John and Amy are the eighth generation of Hunters to farm on the property, which is on 120 preserved acres less than a mile from the Delaware River. They currently have strawberries and asparagus nearing their end seasons alongside zucchini, yellow squash, gold bar squash, romaine lettuce, radishes, broccoli, leeks, scallions, and spring onions.
Hunter’s expects to have cucumbers, kirby cucumbers, hothouse tomatoes, English peas, cabbage, and beets within about a week. Blueberries will soon follow with sweet corn expected in late June. The market’s spring hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Hunter’s accepts vouchers for WIC and Senior Citizens programs.
“The season is off to a really good start,” Amy Hunter said. “We appreciate our customers who have become regulars over the years and enjoy meeting new ones each year too. We work to have a variety of produce and other offerings readily available.”
Eating Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables can improve overall health while eating locally helps protect the environment by reducing food miles between farm and fork thus lessening fuel consumption. Additionally choosing locally grown products helps keep New Jersey farmers on their land preserving quality of life in Garden State.
