By Elaine Van Develde
The Sea Bright Farmers Market is back in season and the goods are ripe for the picking.
In addition to the old favorites — Picklelicious, Fair Mountain Coffee Roasters, Harvest Moon Farm, Holly Jolly Jams, Neshanic Valley Beekeepers, Baker’s Bounty and Franklin Soapworks — there are also some small family-owned farm vendors that have joined in the second year of the outdoor locally grown, organically crafted shopping tradition in the Sea Bright Municipal Parking lot from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays.
Those new additions include organic goodies, like Asian produce, herbs, free-range and grass-fed meats, farm fresh cheeses and from Green Duchess , Central Valley and Holly Hill and Harvest Moon farms. DIVE was also there offering some samples of corn and clam chowder.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect chatted with Holly of Holly Jolly Jams — Holly Hindin. In case you didn’t know, she’s a 1992 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School grad who grew up in Fair Haven. After operating her business out of Fair Haven for a number of years, Holly has relocated to Eatontown.
No offense at all, she said, talking about how she loves the borough: “It was just time to go and I’m trying to expand the business, so I needed more space. Plus, it’s closer to home for me (she lives in Eatontown).”
If you haven’t tried any of Holly’s jams, you need to. There’s a peppery kick to the sweet in all of them — and that’s a great thing.
We tried and loved the peach habanero jam. Yummy. Holly says a lot of people like it as a chicken glaze. Sounds like something to crow over (I know, corny). But, hey, a cracker will do just fine.
Next week, we’re trying some cheese from newbie marketer Central Valley Farm. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, check out our photo gallery for a glimpse into the first day at the market.
The Sea Bright Farmers Market is sponsored by the Sea Bright Borough Council’s Sustainable Sea Bright Committee and non-profit Community Green Market Oganizers. The market, weather permitting, runs on Thursdays through September.