Red Bank Farmers Market Continues through the Fall

New seasonal offerings provide a fresh take on the farmers market traditionally associated with summer.

The Red Bank farmers market is held in the Galleria parking lot every Sunday through mid-November.

Seasonal offerings include pumpkins, gourds and mums.

Red Bank, N.J. — The Red Bank farmers market attracted hundreds of visitors on Oct. 25. Through mid-November, dozens of vendors will offer seasonal flowers, crafts and products every Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Galleria.

The Galleria parking lot, located on the corner of Bridge Avenue and West Front Street, closes each Sunday to accommodate vendors, delivery trucks and pedestrian traffic.

During spring and summer months the market offers fresh produce, flowers and plants. Although farmers markets tend to close for the year after the summer, many new autumn offerings emerge in Red Bank.

Colonial Nursery based in Lincroft attended the market with a large display of mums. Fair Mountain Coffee Roasters of Atlantic Highlights sold fair trade packaged and hot coffee.

Food trucks have also become a staple at the market. Johnny’s Pork-Roll and Coffee Truck based in Monmouth County served pork roll sandwiches to shoppers.

Mike Smith of Red Bank browsed the various vendor tents early Sunday morning despite the rain. Smith attends the farmers market once every few weeks.

“There are mums, fresh baked breads and pumpkin coffee. You name it and they have it here,” Smith said.

Steve’s Pound Cakes is one of the local small businesses that participated in the Sunday market. Stephen Aquilino, the sole employee, owns and operates the business.

Steve Aquilino of Ocean Gate is the owner and sole employee of Steve’s Pound Cakes.

“Everything is homemade from scratch,” Aquilino said.

Aquilino’s best-sellers include blueberry crumb cake and his signature product, German chocolate pound cake with coconut pecan icing. Smith purchased two of the blueberry crumb cakes on the spot after trying several samples.

Aquilino has been a vendor at the Red Bank farmers market for nearly five years, formerly driving to the market from Chalfont, Pa. Since moving to Ocean Gate, Aquilino attends the fair nearly every week.

Aquilino is not the only vendor willing to travel to participate in the farmers market. Bien Cuit, a Brooklyn, N.Y. bakery, started selling at the farmers market approximately five weeks ago.

“We only deliver to Manhattan and Brooklyn, but we are looking to expand our market,” said one Bien Cuit employee.

Bien Cuit, based in Brooklyn, sold a variety of organic breads including miche sourdough.

The signature offering from Bien Cuit was miche sourdough bread, made of organic grains from local farms. Although a seemingly small bakery, Bien Cuit has nonetheless attracted a following in its New York neighborhood.

Bien Cuit was named a critics’ pick from both New York Magazine and The New York Times in 2011. Zachary Golper, the baker at Bien Cuit, has written a book titled after the bakery due for a November release.

The Red Bank farmers market has grown since its launch due to response from the community, according to the Galleria’s website.

“By bringing people together for a farmers market, we hope to promote a greater sense of community, serve as an educational forum and encourage local business development,” the Galleria website states.