The Teaneck Farmers’ Market takes place every Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. on the corner of Garrison and Beverly, in the parking lot behind Cedar Lane. Running from May 5 to November 17, the market hosts close to 20 diverse vendors, ranging from The Cheese Guy to Stoltzfus Farm to Picklelicious. Gigi, the market’s manager, is there to help you find what you need, making the farmers market an exciting, welcoming adventure that trumps any ordinary grocery store visit.
Melvin, the jovial farmer from Stoltzfus Produce, has been coming to the Farmers’ Market since 2011. When asked what separated his produce from the selection in stores, he said he brings the best and the freshest for his customers because all produce is homegrown on his Pennsylvania farm. Stoltzfus sells a variety of vegetables, including yellow squash and green zucchini for only $1 for three, as well as white sweet onions for $1.44 per pound, green beans for $2.99 per pound and lettuce at $2.50 a head. They also have juicy fruits, including blueberries at $5 a pint, sugar plums for $5.99 per pound and red cherries at $12.99 per pound.
At the end of the market sits The Cheese Guy’s stall, run by Jerry. Surrounded by blocks of hard cheeses, packaged soft cheeses and ready-made stuffed raviolis, Jerry is excited to chat with everyone and help them find the best cheese. While Jerry is not Jewish himself, his favorite part about representing the kosher company is getting to know all about Jewish culture from the locals who stop by for “the best kosher cheese ever.” Now, with the Nine Days coming up, The Cheese Guy can help you prep for all your dairy meals.
Picklelicious (also located at 384 Cedar Lane), sells olives and pickles. From their bestselling kalamata olives to hot and spicy full-sour pickles to classic dill pickles, Picklelicious has it all.
Right across from the pickles is Greenwood Lake Coffee Roasters who come to the market every other week, bringing freshly roasted coffee beans, ready to grind on-site according to your preference. With their bestseller varietal, Organic Bali Blue Moon—$14 for an 8 oz. bag and $25 for a 16 oz. bag of ground coffee—as well as many other coffees at similar pricing, they have been perfecting their grind for the five years they have been in business. They also sell hot and iced coffee to enjoy as you walk around the market, along with coffee cubes to keep your iced coffee from watering down. For those who need their coffee fix on Thursday, the day Greenwood Lake takes off, the Zing Cafe coffee truck delivers. While their pastries are not certified kosher, coffee beans generally do not require certification, so enjoy your first cup on them with code ZINGWELCOME when you download the app Zing Cafe, available on Apple and Android devices.
The Teaneck Public Library also sets up shop, offering free crafts and storytime for kids while you pick up a library card if you don’t yet have one.
What everyone agrees on, from the Farmers’ Market manager, Gigi, to Melvin from Stoltzfus farm, to Jerry from The Cheese Guy, is that the best part of the Farmers’ Market every year is the people. “I get to watch families grow,” explained Hana, the owner of Rosie’s Market, who sells organic, handmade soaps, candles and oils.
While the market may look like an easy event to run, a lot of behind-the-scenes work is needed to ensure the market runs smoothly, explained Gigi, who has been the market’s manager for six years. She and her team start planning in January, working with strict guidelines and plenty of paperwork. She goes through each prospective vendor and builds out the market from there. Gigi is proud of the eclectic, dedicated group she puts together year after year.
Some vendors advertise as kosher, but do not show their hashgacha, so as always, make sure your items are certified by a reputable hashgacha, if necessary, before buying anything at the market.
Vendors that are kosher-certified include The Cheese Guy, Picklelicious, both under the RCBC; and Wandering Que, under Star-K. While there may be others, those listed are confirmed by The Jewish Link.
Etta Feuer is a rising sophomore at Hunter College and a Jewish Link summer intern.
