Slow Food group to host local gourmet market at Frelinghuysen Arboretum

Cheeses from Valley Shepherd Creamery in Long Valley will be among items sold on Jan. 19 at Slow Food Northern NJ's harvest market at Frelinghuysen Arboretum.Slow Food Northern NJ’s sixth annual Local Harvest: Farms, Food and Family will be held noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19 at Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township. 

The event offers a rare opportunity to stock up during the winter on local, sustainably produced foods from farmers and artisanal food makers that normally sell their products at farmers markets during the warmer months.  See the full list of participating vendors below.

Admission to the market is $3, with funds raised going toward Slow Food Northern NJ’s mission of helping schools start vegetable gardens. The organization also will be selling organic t-shirts and  market bags at the event.

Visitors can stuff those bags with seasonal vegetables and fruits, grass-fed beef and pork, pastured poultry, eggs, cheese, breads, and prepared foods from 20 local growers and producers while learning about Community Supported Agriculture and how to purchase seasonal farm shares. School Lunch Organic Farm & CSA of Mount Olive will be selling farm shares during the market.  

Frelinghuysen Arboretum is at 353 East Hanover Ave., in Morris Township. Directions: Take I-287 Northbound to Exit 36A (Morris Ave.). Proceed East approx. 1/2 mile in the center lane, past Washington Headquarters (on left). Take left fork onto Whippany Road. Turn left at 2nd traffic light onto East Hanover Avenue. Proceed for about 1/4 mile. Entrance is on left, opposite the Morris County Library.

For more information, visit SlowFoodNJ.org. Call (908) 451-0051 for snow closing information.

Participating farmers and food artisans

Appleridge Farm, Saylorsburg, PA: brick-oven artisanal breads and artisan mustards

Best Fruit Farm, Hackettstown: apples and cider

Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse: artisanal cheese, butter, bread, pastured meats

Churutabis Farm, Branchville: rabbit, duck guinea-hen, freedom ranger chickens & eggs

Degage Gardens: eco-handcrafted herbal aromatherapy products

Donna & Company:  artisan chocolates for Valentine’s Day and any day!

Flint Hill Farm, PA: goats milk cheese and products

Good Fields Farm, South New Berlin, NY: organic grass-fed beef & pastured pork

Griggstown Quail Farm, Griggstown: sustainably raised poultry 

Lazy Susan Granola, Ledgewood: granola

Lickt Gelato, NJ: small-batch gelato and sorbets using fresh seasonal ingredients

Plaid Piper Farm, Branchville: pastured beef and poultry, pork, and eggs

Rogowski Farm, Warwick, NY: winter fruit, vegetables, baked goods & prepared foods 

Tassot Apiaries, Inc, NJ: honey and honey products

Valley Shepherd Creamery, Long Valley: artisanal cheeses and charcuterie

Zen Bakers, South Orange: Lebanese pita baked goods using local, organic ingredients

Slow Food Northern NJ is dedicated to spreading awareness and nurturing appreciation of slowing down to enjoy healthful, locally grown food by connecting New Jersey residents with earth-friendly farmers, chefs, and food makers. The goal of Slow Food Northern NJ is to develop school gardens in every town in northern NJ. The organization has provided 25 school vegetable garden grants in the past 5 years, introducing children to growing and eating healthier foods. Slow Food Northern NJ supports educating children about where their food comes from, how it’s grown, and how enjoyable healthy food can be. School gardens foster a deep connection to healthy food that will last a lifetime.