Farmers Market To Continue Through Sunday Before Thanksgiving

The Fort Lee Farmers Market has been extended through Sunday, Nov. 20, to allow Fort Lee residents the opportunity to continue buying fresh produce, cakes, pies and many other goodies locally right up until the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Tom Meyers of the Fort Lee Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs says business at the market—originally planned to end Oct. 30—has been brisk since it opened in June and that vendors have been enjoying what he called a “banner year.”

“We had more inclement weather on Sunday, especially in August with all the rough weather, but nevertheless our vendors have stuck it out,” Meyers said. “And they’ve been doing pretty well. I know that when I go up there two or three Sundays a month, they’re always pretty busy. Our anchor, Stone Pointe [Sunden's Stone Pointe Farms of Old Tappan], was pulling people into the market as they always do, and it’s been paying off on the other vendors. I know Mortgage Apple Cakes—Angela Logan (full story on Patch)—she’s been doing well.”

Other vendors at this year’s market include Meredith’s Breads of Kingston, N.Y.; Semi Sweet Desserts; and Pickles, Olives, Etc. of Lyndhurst, among others.

“And this year, we added Johnny Meatballs to the mix, and he’s been having a lot of fun at the market with his homemade meatballs, and now he’s doing some other items up there,” Meyers said. “We added a bread vendor, who’s been with us the entire summer into the fall. I think it’s the most successful market we’ve had in many years.”

In fact, Meyers said, it was those very vendors, led by Rich Sunden of Stone Pointe Farms, who requested that the market be extended.

“I know a lot of people like to do some marketing—especially fresh stuff, including fresh pies and fresh cakes—right before Thanksgiving,” Meyers said. “So a vendor like Mortgage Apple Cakes, they’re going to do really well because people can order cakes from them and pick them up that Sunday [Nov. 20] or order them that some Sunday and pick them up from Angela’s place of business before Thanksgiving. [Extending the market] gives people in Fort Lee the opportunity to shop in town to get fresh things that normally they’d have to go out to Old Tappan or into Teaneck so we’re making it cost-effective for people and giving people a reason to come out to the farmers market and support it. The more people come out and support the market, the more likely we’ll have more vendors—in addition to the ones we already have—next year.”

The Fort Lee Farmers Market is located in the plaza area outside the  at 1355 Inwood Terrace.  The market is open every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Nov. 20. For more information call the Fort Lee Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs at 201-693-2763 or visit the Borough of Fort Lee’s website.