BRICK – The final Farmer’s Market of the season concluded recently, wrapping up 11 years for the beloved event that featured nearly 50 vendors at Windward Beach Park.
Launched a decade ago in 2015, the Brick Farmers Market was an immediate hit and has grown each year into one of the premier markets in the state.
On a weekly basis, the market drew thousands of visitors who enjoy strolling the area, visiting their favorite vendors and finding a variety of fresh foods and goods.
Recreation Department staff member Christine Hessenkemper was manning the welcome table as visitors came in seeking out fruits, vegetables, homemade candles, soaps, wine, cookies, baked goods and a variety of other items. “We have full time vendors and part time vendors that we call drop ins. Our number of vendors was anywhere from 57 to 62. This was our eleventh season. We run from the beginning of May until now (October 4).”
“We usually end in September but we moved our schedules around to give them an extra week because the vendors wanted to do more,” she added. “The weather was with us and we have some other events we run here. We have the Farmers Market then the craft fair then Fall Fest and Trunk or Treat. It has been very good. Very receptive.”
There are also vendors of jams and jellies “and Jeff’s Organics Produce; he’s a new farmer with us this year. People were asking for more produce so we went out and he was available. Every year we get a couple of new vendors. I think we got seven new vendors this year that came through so we’re doing pretty good,” she said.
She noted that people are coming out and that was certainly the case for the final regular market day of the season. There were many families and the event was very pet friendly with dogs on the leash. One vendor featured pet treats.
Hessenkemper said, “we’ve had great weather this year. It was a good year every Saturday and we ran 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Other community markets tend to be on week days. When we first established this we did some research to see what communities had markets and no one had them on Saturdays so it was a perfect day. We are at a thousand people today. We average about 1,100 a week attendance.”
There were also several food trucks to purchase lunch from and some dessert items. “We have police for security and mayor and council support and we have the numbers for it. Red House Studios comes out and donates their time once a month and joins us and share their talent.”
That day’s talent was 14-year-old singer Anya Chaiken who was under the canopy singing a variety of songs for those on the field. The Brick Memorial High School student from Point Pleasant provided a variety of familiar and popular songs. She’s on Instagram at anya.sophie.music.
Anya said, “I’ve been playing for a while. I’ve played the first week and the last one. I play every now and then. I also play at other places.” She’s been part of Red House for five years and started singing six months ago. She’s had regular gigs around the area for the last seven months on Friday and Saturday nights.
She’ll be at the Headliner in Neptune this weekend. She is part of a band through Red House Studios and “all the students are playing at The Headliner,” Anya added.
“I play some popular pop and country, some oldies and goodies. I take some 90s rock songs and make them acoustic,” she added.
The Brick 502 Baking Company has been a regular for years at the Farmers Market and it returned this year but is under new ownership. The previous owner’s daughter Lauren Spague took over in July.
“It is in the same location in Brick at 502 Boulevard, her formula and recipes are all here and the same from the previous owner. She had an award-winning key lime pie. She’s keeping everything the woman had prior, she’s just adding more stuff to it,” her dad, Steve Fiorica said.
“I’m helping her out today. We were here this whole season and the previous owner has been here five or six years. We’re big on the scones and cheese crumb and the key lime pie all sold out this morning,” he added.
A few tables away was something unique from Asbury Park, 24 Karrot Spread which was being operated by Betsy Lowther with some help from her two four-legged helpers. “We came once a month. This is our first year doing it. We came regularly but not every week. I’m not the owner my friend Ed is. I work at the markets. We do a lot of these regional farmers markets. The summer is our busy season. We can be at three or four markets on a weekend. It is a great way for people to find us.”
“We did the Allenhurst market this year. We also do Asbury Fresh where we started in Asbury Park and where we are known best. We also go to West Windsor and some farther markets,” she added.
“Our carrots and onions are local to central jersey and the vendor at West Windsor where we are going today show up with these giant boxes of carrots for us. Our manufacturing is done in Asbury Park so it is very much a local operation,” she added. Their spreads are used on chips, pretzels, fresh bread, charcuterie, sandwiches, wraps and even tuna fish.
Other items featured at the market included waffle cone chips, the Shore Shake food truck, Caldino’s, the Spoon & Bowl and you could also shop for homemade soy candles and homemade Polish pierogies, hard cider and mead and Mike’s Crumb Cake Factory.
Farmer Al’s Market & Greenhouses is a long time regular that comes out in their truck from Monroe Township in Monmouth County. Larry Jacobsen explained “anyone who works here is called Al. “The West family started it in 1924. They farmed it with dairy cows at that time and then it was orchards and now it’s vegetables. My son Thomas Jacobsen is doing it and he’s the fourth generation. I’m just a helper. We’ve been doing this market and we also do Metuchen’s market (in Middlesex County). We’ve been going there for 20 years.”
He mentioned the big seller at the markets they take part in are “sweet corn and tomatoes. Everything you see at our stand except for the apples is grown by us.”
While the regular season has ended, the market will return for a special Thanksgiving event on November 22. Shoppers will have the perfect chance to stock up on fresh ingredients for their holiday meals or find unique gifts for family and friends.
