TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher and USDA officials will visit the Downtown Toms River Farmers Market this week to call attention to National and State Farmers Market Week and to encourage New Jersey residents to support these markets and our state’s farmers. Gov. Philip Murphy has proclaimed Aug. 5-11 as Farmers Market Week in New Jersey. The USDA has also proclaimed the week National Farmers Market Week.
There are approximately 140 community farmers markets in the state this season. Farmers who attend the markets sell produce they’ve picked at the peak of ripeness within 24 hours of sale to ensure the best taste and highest quality.
The Downtown Toms River Farmers Market is located at the Ocean County Parking Garage Lawn at 28-46 Hadley Avenue 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday through Nov. 15 and the Monday before Thanksgiving. There are more than a dozen vendors, including several farmers and a variety of other food-related booths and parking is free in the Ocean County Parking Garage.
Eating Jersey Fresh fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products can go a long way to improving overall health. Eating locally also is a good choice for protecting our environment by reducing the miles a meal travels between farm and fork, lessening fuel consumption. In addition, choosing locally grown products helps keep New Jersey farmers on their land, preserving the Garden State’s quality of life.
Secretary Fisher will visit the Downtown Toms River Farmers Market 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Ocean County Parking Garage Lawn at 28-46 Hadley Avenue, Toms River, NJ, 08753. The address for the Ocean County Parking Garage is 101 Hooper Ave., Toms River, NJ 08753
— New Jersey Department of Agriculture