Farm to Fork: Allentown farmers market finds room to grow

By R.H. Schmitt Jr.

Central Jersey, particularly Mercer and Monmouth counties, remain home to a rich network of family farms that continue to shape the region’s landscape, economy and identity. 

In communities where fields, farm stands and preserved open space sit only a short drive from suburban neighborhoods, residents have a direct line to the people who grow fresh vegetables, raise animals and produce many of the foods that reach local tables.

Farmers markets help strengthen that connection, bringing seasonal produce, baked goods, prepared foods and locally made products into community gathering places. 

They allow shoppers to meet the growers and producers behind their purchases while supporting farms, small businesses and the agricultural traditions that have long defined the area.

That farm-to-fork connection strengthening with the expansion of the Allentown Farmers Market, which has moved to High Street under new leadership, giving it more room to grow and creating another destination for shoppers seeking fresh local food and a closer connection to area farmers.

Katrina Carroll of D’Amico Farms, a fourth-generation family vegetable farm on Provinceline Road in Upper Freehold Township, and Gabrielle “Gaby” Rosenblum of CentralGab, a marketing and event planning firm in the Hamilton-Robbinsville area, have joined forces to relaunch the market.

The farmers market, previously located at Pete Sensi Park on South Main Street by the Mill Pond, will now be held in the elementary school parking lot across from Allentown Presbyterian Church twice monthly throu ghout the summer season.

Early community response has been strong.

The original Allentown Farmers Market started just over three years ago. It was organized and run by the Swal family, the previous owners of Allentown’s ice cream shop, Swal Dairy Ice Cream, which is now Heavenly Havens Ice Cream on Main Street.

The Swals, a longtime Allentown merchant family, own the building that housed the old Allentown Hardware Store and is now Bruno’s Bicycle Shop and One Sweet Ride Candy Shop, among other buildings and businesses in town.

The market’s new location on High Street gives Carroll and Rosenblum an opportunity to spread the increased number and diversity of vendors over a larger area with room to grow, according to Rosenblum.

She said she saw strong potential in Allentown and Upper Freehold after the Hamilton Farmers Market venue ended. She said vendors she had worked with, local business connections and Allentown Councilman Dan Payson helped her see the borough as both a commercial opportunity and a safe, family-oriented event space.

“Being in Allentown is very exciting,” Rosenblum said.

She added that Allentown Presbyterian Church was inviting and cooperative, with church leaders primarily interested in collecting material goods and food for their charity work.

“I immediately thought, ‘this is the right community with an established small Farmers Market, a group of really great brick and mortar Main Street businesses, and a wonderfully cooperative and enthusiastic Mayor, governing body, and Borough Administrator,’” Rosenblum said.

Carroll was the key element, she said, in making the decision to fully buy in to the much-expanded Allentown Farmers Market.

“Katrina and her family are the real deal,” Rosenblum said.

She said the D’Amico family are long-established Upper Freehold farmers with a multigenerational wholesale produce farm. The family also had been the primary produce provider for the Swal family’s original farm market in Sensi Park.

Carroll and Rosenblum said the larger, twice-monthly, family-friendly farmers market had to be handled like an event that draws people from across the region into town, rather than simply a collection of vendors.

The hard-working pair said Allentown, known for many years as a sleepy, historical hamlet with more cozy coffee houses, antique stores and knick-knack shops dominating its downtown than entertainment venues, could benefit from a thriving, ever-changing summertime market.

Allentown already has several established businesses that help draw visitors downtown.

The Old Mill, owned and operated by Corky and Kris Danch and their family and seen by many as the heart of the borough, features The Moth Coffee House, Spider’s Cafe, a spot currently being developed for evening entertainment and private get-togethers, as well as unusual bespoke shops inside and out, like the designer clothing boutique Dawne, Sea Ginger and a yoga venue, The Movement.

That being said, the charming but quiet village is hardly known as a getaway location. Town officials have said a thriving, diverse farmers market featuring locally grown fresh produce, food trucks, a wide variety of handcrafted goods and a safe play area for children might help people from throughout the region and well beyond see the town in a more inviting and interesting light.

Mayor Thomas Fritts said the market can help unite culture, commerce and conservation while boosting local tourism and bringing foot traffic to established small businesses and vendors.

“Perhaps most importantly, every purchase made here supports our ongoing mission to protect and encourage local farms and open spaces from overdevelopment, and industrial encroachment, sustaining our rich agricultural and historical heritage and keeping Allentown green for generations to come,” Fritts said.

A South Main Street resident who asked not to be named compared the potential impact to the Allentown Lions Club Beer Garden during the Allentown Fall Festival, when downtown businesses see more customers.

“For a few days in the fall we turn into a hopping little city,” the resident said. “People come here for one thing — like a parade or a craft beer garden — and then realize that Allentown is walkable. They wander around and explore the town.”

In previous years, when the market was held in the Sensi Park lot on South Main Street, some residents complained that the market was too small and the vendors too repetitive.

Still others wondered, sometimes quite vocally, if the market wasn’t just additional competition for downtown businesses already starved for foot traffic.

But town officials push back on that notion, saying many businesses, if their doors are open, would see a significant spike in curious, paying customers.

In fact, with the many new infrastructure improvements and beautification efforts, including the massive sidewalk and street repairs that have happened in recent years, the mayor and others argue that Allentown is more walkable, more inviting and more business-friendly than ever.

“I strongly suggest that people come out and see for themselves,” Fritts said. “Our Historic Village is on the rise in terms of walkability, significant community involvement, a great elected team, and Administrator, and a downtown full of one-of-a-kind small businesses and boutiques.”

Carroll, of D’Amico Farms, said what many people don’t understand is what it takes to bring fresh produce to market.

“My Uncle Alfonso has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer,” she said. “He runs the D’Amico Farm. To get our best produce to a Farmers Market — even one just up the road, requires a full family effort.”

Carroll said the cold winter and chilly spring delayed planting for many area farmers. She said it takes two teams of workers, as well as time and resources, to keep the wholesale farm running while also bringing goods to market.

“We’re lucky enough now to have two teams working hard to keep our wholesale farm running while the other team of family members runs our D’Amico Fresh Produce stand at the market, twice a month,” Carroll said.

She said her work with the market is connected to both the family farm and the broader Allentown community.

D’Amico Farms is a fourth-generation family vegetable farm rooted in Allentown. For decades, the family has cared for 50 acres, growing fresh, seasonal vegetables and preserving the agricultural traditions that have shaped the farm.

Its on-site farm stand offers produce harvested at peak freshness throughout the growing season.

“What inspires me most is the chance to honor what my family has created and ensure it continues to thrive for years ahead,” Carroll said.

Rosenblum has built a career around content creation, event production, fitness, wellness experiences, pop-up events and community activations designed to support small businesses and bring people together.

Carroll and Rosenblum said the grand opening of the farmers market on May 16, featuring a ribbon cutting attended by the mayor and many Borough Council members, along with a large crowd of shoppers, was a smashing success.

The Allentown Farmers Market will be open twice a month through September from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Market dates are June 13 and 27, July 11 and 25, Aug. 8 and 22, and Sept. 12 and 26.

For questions or to find out how to become a vendor, email Gaby and Katrina at allentownfarmersmarketnj@gmail.com.

Shoppers can visit D’Amico Farms on Facebook or in person at its farmstand at 632 Provinceline Road, Upper Freehold. The farmstand is open every day.

A full, updated list of vendors, which changes from one month to the next, is highlighted on CentralGab’s Facebook page.

The 2026 market is open on select Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Remaining dates are July 25; Aug. 8 and 22; and Sept. 12 and 26. Because the market does not operate every week, visitors should confirm the date before attending. For more information, visit allentownboronj.com or facebook.com/AllentownNJFm.

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The region offers a wide variety of farmers markets, each with its own mix of produce, prepared foods, baked goods, specialty items and local vendors. The following listings highlight markets throughout Central Jersey and nearby communities, along with their schedules and locations.

Bordentown City

Bordentown City Farmers Market, held outside the Carslake Community Center, 207 Crosswicks St. The weekly market features local farmers, food producers, bakers, makers and other vendors, with the selection changing throughout the growing season.

The market is open Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The 2026 season began June 7 and continues through the end of September, although the city describes the general market season as running from June through October. cityofbordentown.com/page/farmers-market.

Hopewell Borough

Hopewell Farmers Market, 62 E. Broad St. The market brings local farms, food producers and specialty vendors to downtown Hopewell Borough. Shoppers can find seasonal produce and other locally produced foods while supporting farms and independent businesses from the Hopewell Valley area.

The market is held Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The seasonal market generally operates from May through November, continuing until around Thanksgiving. facebook.com/hopewellfarmersmarket.

Pennington

Pennington Farmers Market, held at Rosedale Town & Country, 101 Route 31 North in Hopewell Township. The producer-focused market features locally grown fruits and vegetables, baked goods, prepared foods, beverages and other products from regional farms and independent vendors. Special market days may also include live music and community organizations.

The market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., generally from late May through mid-November. The 2026 season opened May 23. Hours may occasionally be shortened because of extreme heat or other weather conditions. penningtonfarmersmarket.org.

Lawrence Township

Trenton Farmers Market, 960 Spruce St.,  Lawrence Township, near the Trenton and Ewing border. The market is home to produce farms, butchers, bakeries, restaurants and vendors selling prepared foods, specialty groceries, plants and locally made products. Its busiest produce season generally runs from May through October, while a winter market continues during the remainder of the year.

The market is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Individual merchants may maintain different days and hours, so visitors looking for a particular vendor should check before traveling. thetrentonfarmersmarket.com.

Princeton

Princeton Farmers Market,  held at Hinds Plaza, 55 Witherspoon St., in downtown Princeton. The market brings together local farms, food producers, bakers and prepared-food vendors offering seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, breads, beverages and other locally produced goods. Parking is available nearby in the Spring Street Garage.

The market is open Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 2026 regular season began May 7, with weekly markets planned through the fall. Winter markets may also be offered on selected dates. princetonfarmersmarket.com.

Trenton

Capital City Farmers Market. A seasonal outdoor market serving downtown Trenton. The market features New Jersey produce and products from local farmers, food businesses and community vendors. It is separate from the permanent Trenton Farmers Market on Spruce Street in Lawrence Township.

The city’s 2026 market opened May 7, with hours from 2 to 7 p.m. Market dates and locations may vary, so visitors should confirm the current schedule through the City of Trenton before attending. facebook.com/CityOfTrenton.

Capital City Farm. Capital City Farm is an urban farm and community agricultural site at 301 N. Clinton Ave. The farm grows fresh produce in Trenton and offers public hours during which residents can visit the site and learn about its agricultural and community programs. Availability of produce and on-site activities may vary according to the season.

Public hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. facebook.com/CapitalCityFarmTNJ.

West Windsor

West Windsor Community Farmers Market, held in the Vaughn Drive parking lot at the Princeton Junction train station, with access near 877 Alexander Road. The market features a large rotating selection of regional farms, bakers, food producers and artisans. Weekly markets often include live music, nonprofit organizations and programs promoting access to locally produced food.

The outdoor market is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the main season, beginning in May and continuing through the Saturday before Thanksgiving. 

Winter markets are generally held on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. westwindsorfarmersmarket.org.

Farmers Market at Mercer County Community College, held in the parking lot next to the University Center on the college’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Vendors sell produce, jams, cold-pressed juices, breads, pastries, teas, honey, pickles, artisan soaps and other products. Proceeds from donated Bent Spoon ice cream support the college’s food pantry.

The market is held every other Wednesday from 2 to 6 p.m., rain or shine. Remaining 2026 dates are July 22; Aug. 5 and 19; and Sept. 2 and 16. mccc.edu.