Berkeley's New South Seaside Farmers Market Offers Wide Variety

BERKELEY, NJ — Berkeley's new farmers market in South Seaside Park is in full-gear. The market, which debuted May 17, will be open until Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Mondays and Fridays at the Island Beach State Park entrance.

Berkeley Township announced in March that this new market would open up, supplementing the Bayville Farmers Market. Several customers in South Seaside Park on Friday said they loved the new market's atmosphere. Read more: Berkeley To Open New South Seaside Park Farmers Market

"This is my first time at this location," said customer Terry Nafus. "I drove by last week and I'm glad I stopped in today. Everyone has been real friendly."

The new farmers market provides another opportunity to find farm-fresh foods and more from around New Jersey.

The Colony Market, owned and operated by Todd Marchetti, was established in 1938. It was handed down from father to son, generation to generation, and is based in Brick Township.

"We provide New Jersey GMO-free, organic and conventional produce," Marchetti said. "I bring a minimum of 100 items. There is only rule to my set up: If there is ever anything you want and don't see, always ask. If it's not on site, 90% of the time I can have here it in 2 hours."

Meika Laszlo owns and operates the Little Sister Soaps. A teacher for 20 years, Laszlo decided it was time to make a change. Laszlo makes her soaps at the Hunters Run Farm in Wall, owned by her parents.

Laszlo is taking a course called Formula Botanica based in the United Kingdom and will be certified in six months. Laszlo has been making soap for two years, but it was only a year ago she got her business registered.

"I don't know of another person who has gone into a new profession with more passion and dedication than Meika," said Laszlo's mother, Jan.

Debi Kauffman of Kauffman's Farm Market is based in Farmingdale. Kaufman's husband Douglas and his father Chuck started the farm in 1981. The farm was a poultry farm but the market crashed and they began selling produce.

Kauffman joined them in 1999 and they expanded into tailgate markets. Kauffman's granddaughter, Julia, is a helping hand at the market.

"We are Jersey Fresh Farm and everything we sell is from our farm or a sister farm that is Jersey Fresh," Kauffman said.

Brandon Bedran and his father Marcel run the BranMar Belize Ltd., an agent for MARIE SHARP'S Products. Originally from the Central American country of Belize, the father and son always had a love for hot sauce and emigrated to the United States approximately 15 years ago.

They hoped people in the Toms River area shared their passion. Bedran said they started out in May 2019 and business has been going very well. In addition to the wide variety of hot sauces, the Bedrans sell jams, jellies and steak sauces.

"We have a lot of heat and a lot of flavor," Bedran said.

Other vendors at the location include the Shore Coffee Brew, which began in May 2019. Friday was their second day at the Berkeley location. Danielle Lay and Christina Scirica decided against their original idea to begin a food truck business. But they're optimistic about the young company.

"So far it's been going well, we like doing it and hope to eventually expand," Scirica said.

Although it's only been around a month, the farmers market has already attracted some customers as regulars.

"I come here twice a week and the produce is super fresh," customer Tom Finkle said. "There's a wide variety and great helpers."

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