Paramus Farmers Market Is Mushrooming In Popularity

Fresh fruits and vegetables are not the only items to be found at the ever growing Paramus Farmers Market.

Add mozzarella cheese, marinated brisket, baked breads, and many more to the mouth-watering options that were available Wednesday.

As members of the Paramus Environmental Commission, organizers of the market, attempted to keep vehicles flowing in and out of the parking lot, visitors continued sampling homemade ravioli from L&D's Sapore Ravioli & Cheese, and pickles and peppers from Dr. Pickle. 

"By the end of today, which will be our fifth market, we will have had over 3,000 visitors," said Jerry Anthony, Chairman of the Paramus Environmental Commission (PEC). "People are just hungry for fresh, local produce."

"People coming into the market are telling us, 'Thank you for doing this,'" added Jorge Quintana, PEC Vice Chairman. "They really appreciate the fact that this should have been done years ago."

Market organizers have arranged for special sponsors or guests to visit the market every week to give patrons something to look forward to since  Last week the market offered vouchers for seniors, next week, the Mahwah Environmental Volunteer Organization (MEVO) will be giving away 70-75 recycling cans. 

Produce Pete, the popular produce expert and author who made a special appearance the first week, is scheduled to return August 15.

Native Vendor Returns

While a strum stick musician filled the market with banjo-sounding melodies, Dina Burke, who co-manages the market, pointed out several vendors, including Grounded Coffee Catering's Melissa Knot, who was serving up customized, natural sodas, and Chumley's BBQ, who displayed award winning sauces, from Fired Up Original BBQ Sauce, to Root Beer BBQ Sauce.

Paramus native Jason Gaer, partner of chef and co-owner Dan "Chumley" Lemire from Westwood, said farmers markets are important because it allows vendors opportunities to expand their client base.

"We're looking to expand to our second location," said Gaer, who was so successful at other farmers markets, the partners opened their first store in Florida, New York five years ago.

Now they are searching for a Bergen County or Harriman/Tuxedo location to open their second shop.

But despite the expansion, Gaer and Lemire felt compelled to return to their Bergen County roots.     

"It was important to come down here because we know Bergen County people have very good palettes for food,"Gaer said.

Paramus Farmers Market is open for business Wednesdays through September 26th from 3pm - 7pm, and is located at Petruska Park - 475 Farview Avenue, a quarter-mile north of Midland Intersection.