From Farm to Table: Tales are Told, Fresh Food Sold at Bergen Farmers Markets

Under the arc of watermelons being heaved through the air in Ridgewood, Michael Grisafe is hard at work in a non-descript white truck hitch. He's boiling and molding mozzarella into a perfect sphere. His hands knead and knead and children line up, eagerly awaiting their own .

"We’re the only type of truck like this in history," he said. “Nobody else does it like this.”

It sure beats the supermarket, the children say. Trains whiz by and the vendors close their lips, abruptly stopping their conversations. They've been here before, there's no use talking over the steel train in Ridgewood.

“We’ve been coming here since they started,” said Baker's Bounty vendor Pete Walyga as the hum of the train passed. “You see kids grow up, it adds a personal feel.”

On a balmy Sunday afternoon, people from all around manuever the tables filled with fresh fruit and vegetables, carefully examining tomatos for any defects. They look good, and the woman merges into an impromptu line, ready do pay. From the earth to the table.

It's just one of the many scenes you'll see on Sundays across farm-fresh hungry Bergen County.

Some 25 miles east near the George Washington Bridge, . A popular favorite at the Fort Lee Farmers Market, the cookies are hot sellers, even hotter when accompanied by a joke, which you're sure to get from Johnny.

The pair of Staten Island bakers, married and with a powerful story to tell, can be spotted  a few days later, on Tuesday.

There too, in southern Bergen County off Route 4, crowds have gathered to meet another Johnny. But they've got meatballs on the mind this time.

By mid-day Tuesday–the last time Patch stopped by–Johnny's "Meatballs" Decarlo and his delicacy had almost been sold out. Made locally at Star Ravioli in Moonachie, the meatball man and star of reality show My Big Friggin' Wedding on VH1 plans to be back at the Farmer’s Market every Tuesday.

If you're one of the many on a Kosher diet in the most populous county in the state, there's one place you'll need to go on Thursday–Teaneck. To boot, there's also some Amish delicacies .

"Here we have the Woopie Pies," said Laura Hostetlerin a blue dress and white bonnet, pointing past a roll of small breads on a long white table.

"A lot of kids like 'em," the Watsontown, Pennslvania resident said. "They buy them and freeze them. They make them into an ice cream cake."

Let them have cake, indeed. In fact, if you stay in Teaneck you can hear Angela Logan and her tale of cakes and...mortgages? Yes, mortgages.

Tamar Poyser, who assists Logan, said it wasn't too long ago Logan's home was in foreclosure.

"She made a goal to sell 100 cakes in ten days. She sold out, the home was saved and the story went national," Poyser told Patch. "Her cakes were sold nationally across the country through Bake-a-Wish. Here we are today," she added with a smile.

From the farm to the table, there's sure to be a story to be found at the twelve Bergen farmers markets.

Take a look at our guide of Bergen places to grab a bucketful of fruit, vegtables, meats, cheeses, pies and just about anything else you could imagine. And please, stay for the stories.

Ridgewood Farmers’ Market

• When: Sundays, June 26 to Nov. 5; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Where: Ridgewood Train Station
• Why Go: There’s a fresh honey stand for honey lovers, homemade jams, fresh breads and pies, pickles and of course, a huge selection of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as a large selection of fresh herbs. You'd be wise to stick around for some of that fresh mozzarella and chomp on the fresh hot peppers and other goodies.

Washington Township Farmers' Market

• When: Sundays, June 19 to Sept. 25; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Where: , 79 Pascack Road
• Why Go: This farmers market includes Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fresh pasta, frozen raviolis, sauces, artisan baked goods, olives, various pickles, pickled vegetables, honey, cheeses, goat yogurt, goat fudge, baklava, dressings, and more also available on scheduled weeks.

Fort Lee Farmers’ Market

• When: Sundays, June 26 to Nov. 20; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Where: Community Center off Anderson Avenue
• Why Go: Well, you want fresh fruits and vegetables, artisanal breads and cheeses, pickles, plants, pies and more, right? And, of course you know all about the cookies.

Emerson Farmers’ Market

• When: Sundays, June 26 to Nov. 20; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Where: Emerson train station on Kinderkermack Road
• Why Go: The Orchards of Conklin from Rockland County is here and aside from their freshly grown fruit, they bring their freshly baked pies and donuts. There are additional farm stands with a large selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, including white carrots, which are sweeter than the orange ones, and freshly picked mushrooms. There’s pickles, freshly made mozzarella and artisanal breads.

 Ramsey Farmers' Market

• When: Sundays, June 12 to Nov. 20; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Where: Ramsey Train Station, Erie Plaza off Main Street
• Why Go: Fresh fish from Hampton Bays, organic fruits and vegetables, Orchards of Conklin, fresh cut flowers, Dr. Pickles, organic teas and coffees, homespun chili, Ventimiglia Vineyards, quiches, gluten-free bakery items, goat milk cheeses, artisan breads, jams, fresh pies, fresh pastas, honey and so much more!

 Tenafly Farmers’ Market

• When: Sundays through Oct. 31; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Where: Parking lot at the corner of Tenafly Road and Washington Street
• Why Go: Large selection of organic fruits, vegetables and an organic bread stand. In addition to the organic stands, there are two large vegetable stands, a plant/flower stand, freshly made goat’s milk cheeses, a featured artist and a kids’ art table.

Hasbrouck Heights Farmers’ Market

• When: Tuesdays, June 14 – Sept. 27; noon to 6 p.m.  
• Where: Corner of Boulevard and Washington Place
• Why Go: There are two farm stands offering fruits and vegetables, an organic bakery, pickles, mozzarella, breads, fresh ravioli and a stand that sells organic handmade soap.

 Haworth Farmers’ Market

• When: Tuesdays, June 7 to Nov. 22; 2 to 7 p.m.
• Where: Terrace Street Parking lot
• Why Go: Farm fresh fruits, vegetables, pickles, olives, breads, cheeses and more.

 Rutherford Farmers’ Market

• When: Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 1 to Oct. 29
• Where: Williams Plaza
• Why Go: The Wednesday market features Jersey Fresh produce from two New Jersey Farms, Amish baked goods, pickles, frozen seafood and pasta, dried fruits and nuts and an assortment of other products. The Saturday market only features New Jersey Fresh farm produce. 

 River Vale Farmers’ Market

• When: Thursdays, June 30 to Oct. 27; noon to 6 p.m.
• Where: River Vale Town Hall Complex, 406 Rivervale Road, in the parking lot next to the tennis courts
• Why Go: It has a lot of  vendors, including two fresh fruit and vegetable stands, one of which is Stokes Farm from Old Tappan; a handmade wine stand—with tastings! (If you like wine—try theirs!); a stand that offers handmade sodas and coffees; a stand with fresh handmade pasta sauces and pizzas; fresh Italian ice stand; a pickles stand; an Amish stand with all the amazing homemade pies, pastries and jams and a fresh mozzarella and bread stand. 

 Teaneck Farmers’ Market

• When: Thursdays, June 23 to Oct. 27; noon to 6 p.m.  
• Where: Municipal parking lot off Cedar Lane, Garrison Avenue and Beverly Road, in back of the Wells Fargo Bank (across from Bischoff’s)
• Why Go: There’s two farm stands, but one of them is Amish, and you have never seen such enormous vegetables or a stand so perfectly arranged with endless offerings. And don’t forget to take home some Amish baked goods like whoopee pies, snickerdoodles or jams. There’s also a mozzarella and bread stand and a pickle stand. 

Englewood Farmers’ Market

• When: Fridays, June 10 to Oct. 28; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Where: Depot Square off North Van Brunt Street
• Why Go: Stands with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, an Amish stand with homemade baked goods, a mozzarella and bread stand and pickles.

Patch freelancer Ann Piccirillo contributed to this article.