Familiar Faces, Newcomers Offer Fresh Goods at Paramus Farmers Market

Each Wednesday a variety of vendors from all over parts of the state bring their fresh goods, treats and some innovative offerings to the Paramus community for the weekly farmer's market presented by the borough's environmental commission. 

The market, which is in its second year, features some familiar faces like Denise Collier of Hensler Farms and the rest of its crew who are back with their fresh fruits and vegetables. Collier says the family run farm based in Belvidere, NJ brings "a little bit of everything" each week to Paramus. 

Bakers Bounty of Linden, NJ has also returned for a second year with its handmade breads made all natural with no preservatives with all ingredients coming from local farms. 

Shoppers at the market can visit Dr. Pickle, Baklava Falafel and Edgewick Farms  of Cornwall, New York which carries a variety of goat milk cheeses.

Visit the Scooters table and meet Ron Goldsmith of Hillsdale and his partner Lisa Fortunato who make all natural dog treats.  It's their first year at the Paramus market with their treats which come in a variety of flavors like Beefy Bites, Chicken Strips and Sweet Potato which are all what Goldsmith calls "human quality." The treats have no chemicals, no preservatives and no soy and are made in the U.S. says Goldsmith.  

The local business owner says he previously worked in distribution for dog and cat food and after his company was bought out he decided to go out on his own. 

Honeybrook Farms of Pinebrook, New York brings its variety of honeys and bee pollen items to the market each week. They carry everything from beeswax candles and balm to a variety of honey including wildflower, buckwheat and clover. 

Come by the L&D's Sapore Ravioli and Cheese stand and Lillian Mastrogiovanni will surely cut a slice of fresh mozzarella for you try and let you sample some of their fresh ravioli. 

The team at Anita's Guacamole will let you sample some of their fresh guacamole right at their stand. The Philadelphia-based company makes tomato and mango salsa and cucumber guacamole as well as the traditional. 

Tony DiMiglio of Sanducci's Pizza in River Edge is now bring fresh brick oven pizza right to the folks who shop at the farmers market. DiMiglio says it's the first time he's doing farmer's markets and has brought the wood fire oven with him where he'll make some margerita pizza and other pies. 

In addition to food, shoppers can pick up treats and gifts at the Blue Lotus Botanicals which has a variety of soaps and oils for sale. 

Then there is the Green Mojo stand an eco-consulting company which is working to help others make their homes greener with their innovation - the eco barrel. The company repurposes food grade transport barrels which not only keeps them out of landfills but helps one's home by collecting rainwater for the use of watering plants, and also collects water reducing storm water run-off, explained consultant Joshua Arias.  

There is also the Eco-tumbler which makes composts out of food scraps eliminating waste, he said.

The market is open each Wednesday from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. and runs until the middle of September.