When Beth Feehan, pictured at right, began to envision a farmers market similar to the one in Union Square, New York City, little did she know that she would soon be planning winter markets at indoor locations. Feehan is co-founder of the West Windsor Farmers Market that opened in 2003, and co-organizer of the third winter farmers market that will be held on Sunday, March 9, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tre Piani Restaurant, Forrestal Village, Plainsboro.##M:[more]##
“There needed to be a winter market when people would not be in their own yards,” says Feehan, who organized the past three events with West Windsor Farmers Market, Mikey Azzara of the Lawrenceville Main Street Farmers Market and Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey, and Jim Weaver of Tre Piani and Slow Food NJ.
“Village Bakery put the idea in my head when they said it would be great to have a venue for the winter,” says Feehan, who is already planning to include events in January, February, and March, 2009.
All three floors will include vendors and their seasonal products including things to eat there or take home. Three Central Jersey chefs will offer seasonal cooking demonstrations with items available at the market beginning at 11:30 a.m. The Straight Jazz Trio will feature John Henry Goldman of West Windsor on trumpet and keyboard. There will be seating on the lower level and a cash bar.
Feehan, who has lived in West Windsor since 1998, had always wanted a career involving food and graduated from the French Culinary Institute in New York City when she was 30 — after she had three children, now 12, 19, and 21. When she is not working on the summer or winter markets, Feehan is actively involved with the WW-P school board “working on farm to school food.”
The indoor market features Terhune Orchards’ ciders, salsas, and apple sauce; Cherry Grove Farm beef, pork, lamb, cheese, and eggs; specialty cuts of goat meat from Eldorado Farm’s Goat World; the Village Bakery’s fresh artisan breads and pastries; Valley Shepherd Creamery sheep and cow’s milk cheese and yogurt; ARC Greenhouses baby greens and herbs; Farmer Steve’s organic popcorn; Cape May salt oysters and Jersey clams; the Bent Spoon’s ice cream and gelato as well as prepared foods, coffee, and drinks available to eat-in or take out.
The West Windsor Farmers Market opens Saturday, May 10, in the Vaughn Drive parking lot at the Princeton Junction train station. Visit www.westwindsorfarmersmarket.org for more information. — Lynn Miller
Winter Farmers Market, Tre Piani Restaurant, Forrestal Village, Plainsboro, 609-577-5113. www.trepiani.com. Area food producers and restaurant chefs gather with musicians for the annual event. Prepared foods, coffee, and drinks featuring a bounty of Garden State seasonal products. Free. Sunday, March 9, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
