Fall Arrives at the Farmers Market

Tuesday marked the official arrival of fall, and with the temperature drop comes a new crop of produce at the farmers market, catering to a seasonal change in customers' palates.  

It’s now “comfort food season,” according to Scott of Hoboken Farms. Famous for fresh mozzarella, which is made daily at 3:30 a.m., Hoboken Farms's stand sees a demand in fall for chicken pot pie and bread to accompany it. Meanwhile, Simon of Pickles, Olives, Etc. marks the change in season by the pickles he sells. “In fall, customers want sour, kosher and hots,” he explains. “The half-sour season is over.”

Indeed, sweet corn, melons, and what James Kesler of Tree-Licious Orchards describes as “stone fruits,” including peaches and plums, are making their final appearances at this year’s market. “It’s apple time,” says Kesler, gesturing to a row of fruit in every shade of red. “Macouns are popular this year,” he says, explaining that the variety is a cross between a Macintosh and a Jersey Black. “They sell very well in New York City,” he notes. Cider is making its first appearances of the year; Kesler’s is pressed from apples he grows himself.

Alstede Farms boasts apples in all forms, including pie, which is a popular purchase, according to Tomas. Tomatoes, in shades of red, orange and white, fill a table of their stand and are always in demand. “Pumpkins will be here very soon,” noted Tomas. He pointed out Alstede’s answer to comfort food: their tomatoes are available in cans for year-round cooking.

Main Street South Orange has a tent at the market, as well. Their wares—T-shirts, hats and tote bags—are always in season. “They’re seasonal colors, though,” noted a potential customer, eyeing the brown and orange shirts.

Dark-green leafy vegetables and poblano peppers marbled in red and green fill tables that held hundreds of ears of corn only weeks ago. Tree-licious’s first crop of miniature pumpkins dwarf the early fall tomatoes. What Shakespeare described as “The teeming autumn, big with rich increase,” is in rich evidence at the market. And there’s more of “this abundant issue” to come; Kesler noted that Winesap apples will be harvested after Nov. 5.