Farmers Market opens for season
By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
Crowds bustled at the Princeton farmers market as it opened for the summer season in Hinds Plaza yesterday.
”We come every Thursday we’re in town,” said Pam Hughes of Princeton Borough, who picked up a box of strawberry apple Lillipies for her husband. “(The pies are) why we came; even though we are leaving town, we had to come for the Lillipies.”
Lillipies are mini-pies made by Princeton-based Jen’s Cakes and Pastries.
The couple does but most of their produce at the weekly summer market. “We like to support the local folks,” she said. “I really like Chickadee Creek Farm too and Jess (the owner) and all the work she does.”
Chickadee Creek Farm is located in Pennington.
The vendors also love the customers and how welcoming they are. “The reception is great,” said Karin Kelder, an employee of Tenafly-based Picklelicious, as she packed container after container of pickles and olives as people crowded around.
Many local employees, such as Janet Baxendale of Princeton Borough, come over their lunch break to grab a bite to eat. “I’m hoping to find lunch, get some flowers and bring back donuts,” she said after sampling some homemade jam from Perrineville-based Jersey Jams & Jellies. “This is great, it’s nice to see this in a place like Princeton, you usually see this in New England.”
Princeton Township resident Jennifer Jang scored her lunch-a humus pita from Whole Earth Center-at the market. “I come rain or shine all winter for all the great stuff,” she said as she unwrapped her sandwich. “I look forward to it all winter.”
This year’s market has 21 vendors each week, said Judith K. Robinson, market manager. “It’s going to be really packed,” she said. “I’m adding more vendors this year, so there will be a greater variety of things.”
Shoppers could buy vegetables, plants, eggs, cheese and meat and more.
”I’m all about organic vegetables, so I came to check it out,” said Leigh Pinter of Princeton Township. “It’s really cool to have in the community.”
Every week through November 17, the market will be at the square on Witherspoon Street in front of the Princeton Public Library, rain or shine. “We only closed down once last summer,” said Ms. Robinson.
Princeton University was present with the model of the proposed Lewis Center for the Arts and the Arts and Tranist project.
”The town and gown mix is great, I never would have seen this if I wasn’t at the market,” said Jim Alsup of Hopewell, as he waited at the market for his wife.
People are welcomed to stay and eat at the market’s tables in the square. “It encourages people to get to know each other,” she said.
From 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. a musician or band will play each week and the schedule is online at the markets website, www.princetonfarmersmarket.com or the organizations Facebook page.
”My focus is to get the community involved and my goal is to be an activist market in both getting out information about how to eat healthy and how easy it can be to do that,” Ms. Robinson said. “By supporting our local farmers we have this resource for sustaining our local farms and a supply of food from our local area.”
To continue sustainability, the market will have it’s own custom reusable totes. “In order to lessen the use of plastic bags, I have people making bags and the library will be selling their own bags,” said Ms. Robinson.

