Michael Politz, now a Somerville resident, grew up going to the PA Dutch Farmer's Market of Wyomissing. He started when he was about four-years-old, accompanying his mother who frequented the market due to its fresh meats and produce sold by Pennsylvania Dutch farmers.
“She always said that the food you found there was better than what you could find in a grocery store,” he said.
Now, almost 40 years later, Politz still heads to local Dutch marketplaces twice a month for homemade pretzels, chips, meats, produce and sticky buns. These days, he can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers’ Market in the Kingston Mall in Princeton on select Thursday afternoons.
“I like the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers’ Market in Princeton because it’s small and conveniently located for me," said Politiz, who writes the Spirits of NJ column for the Courier News and Home News Tribune. He also appreciates that the food is always fresh.
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Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers’ Market in Princeton
Politz isn’t the only one regularly heading to the indoor, year-round Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers’ Market, which is open each week from Thursday to Saturday on Route 27 in the Kingston Mall in Franklin Township (it has a Princeton address online). According to Vernon Beiler, manager of the market, about 1,000 to 1,200 people go there weekly, with about half of them being regular customers.
The market was started by Beiler’s father, Isaac Beiler, in 1992 with five vendors. Today, the market has 11 vendors, including Beiler’s Dairy, Beiler’s Fresh Meats, Stoltzfus Poultry, Lynn’s Soft Pretzels, King's Salads and Jellies, Mom's Candy Corner, King's Seafood and Grill and Sun Rise Bakery.
“My father was from Lancaster, and as a general rule, our people usually farm,” Beiler said. “However, it’s getting harder and harder for us to do that, so he was looking for alternative ways to sell. Other people had started markets in Maryland and other areas of New Jersey, so he scooped up the idea.”
According to Beiler, many people raising families enjoy trips to the Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers’ Market, and they have told Beiler they enjoy the freshness of its products and its friendly customer service.
These days, the market has been selling more and more antibiotic- and preservative-free foods in its produce and meats, said Beiler, reflecting customers' interests in such products.
Dutch Country Farmers’ Market in Flemington
The Princeton market isn’t the only destination that Central Jerseyans consider when they’re looking for high-quality meats, produce and other items. The Dutch Country Farmers’ Market on Commerce Street in Flemington is also a community staple, bringing in 800 to 1,000 weekly customers to its indoor, year-round market during its open hours from Thursday through Saturday.
According to John King, market manager, about 85 percent of their customers come regularly, especially when the holidays come around and they feel more inclined to drive long distances for specialty items.
They have been doing so since the market opened in Flemington in 2000 — before that, it operated at a more northern location for three years, and before that, it was at another Flemington location for an additional seven years.
“Our market really holds its own,” King said. “We’ve always had a steady pace of customers.”
The Dutch Country Farmers’ Market in Flemington has 12 vendors, including Marty's Candies & Canned Goods, Lil's Pretzels & Ice Cream, Beiler's Cheese & Pickles, Esh's Crafts, Hubby's Watch Service and MY Restaurant, an on-site restaurant for homestyle cooking with all meals made from scratch.
“People tell us that our meat and breads are fresher than what they can find at grocery stores,” King said. “All of our bread is baked here at the market and you can actually watch the pretzels being made from scratch.”
King said that customers love their homemade pretzels and sausages, both of which have no preservatives and are made on the premises. The market also carries a line of grass-fed beef.
“Our customers also come to our market to buy salads and other prepared foods to take home as well,” King said. “You can buy a full-course meal from us, pop it in the microwave and be ready to go since many people don’t have time to do a lot of cooking.”
Going to the markets
Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market is at 4437 Route 27, in the Kingston Mall, Franklin Township, and can be reached at 609-683-5260 or padutchfarmersmarket.net.
Dutch Country Farmers Market is at 19 Commerce St., Flemington, and can be reached at 908-806-8476 or dutchfarmersmarket.com.
Jenna Intersimone's "Destination Jersey" column appears Tuesdays. Her "Life Aboard The Traveling Circus" blog is at LifeAboardTheTravelingCircus.com. Tweet her at @JIntersimone or email her at JIntersimone@GannettNJ.com.