Find farmers markets in New Jersey and nationwide with USDA directory

Scotch Plains Farmers Market, open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays in the town parking lot at 430 Park Ave., has produce, flowers, cheese, prepared food and more.

Farmers markets can offer the freshest of both familiar and less familiar types of seasonal produce.

If you love your fruits and veggies as much as we do, check out the USDA's farm-market finder,  the Farmers Market Directory.

At farmersmarkets.usda.gov, there are lots of statistics and farmer-centeric details like the total number of registered farm markets and the states with the highest number. But most of us will just want to find farm markets -- say, one that will have Jersey Fresh tomatoes, peaches and local honey. The nationwide database lets you search for markets by ZIP code within a specified radius.

Sweet Babka cake from the Lithuanian Bakery stall at Scotch Plains Farmers Market is this young shopper's pick. Fresh baked goods inclue fruit cakes, pies, cookies and breads. How about 8 delicious types of rye bread, including sourdough.

You can also search the site by state, and New Jersey has numerous entries. Another resource for finding farm-fresh produce in New Jersey is the New Jersey Department of Agriculture's  Jersey Fresh website, JerseyFresh.nj.gov. It lists markets that sell Jersey-grown produce as well as farms that will let you pick your own seasonal fruits and veggies.

According to the USDA, farmers markets have increased in popularity over the years and have "evolved into a favorite social assembly point in many communities." That is the case in several New Jersey farmers markets where regulars gather for the food as well as the familiar faces.

Participation in the USDA's online directory is a voluntary, with farm market operators supplying the information presented. Because of this, the list of what's available might not always reflect the actual breadth of products available, so be sure to check things out for yourself.

With the USDA search engine, you can also search the market data for foods and other items beyond produce, including baked goods, crafts, cheeses, wines, preserves, meats and more.

If you're planning a summer or fall road trip to another state, use the ZIP code of the area you'll visit to search for area farm markets. We searched 18103, for example, and came up with several markets in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. The area's largest is Allentown Fairgrounds Farmer's Market. Along with its numerous stalls filled with beautiful fresh produce, this highly recommended indoor marketplace features a variety of Pennsylvania Deutsch delights, Amish baked goods, fresh-baked breads, locally produced butcher and deil meats, cheeses and prepared meals that reflect the cuisines of long-time residents as well as those of more recent arrivals. It's worth the drive, but note that the market is always closed during the annual Allentown Fair, which runs Aug. 26 - Sept. 1 this year.