As the warm summer days continue, there’s no better time to celebrate Farmers Market Week (August 4 – 10, 2024) and the vibrant pick-your-own flower season at Alstede Farms. Mark your calendars for the first full week of August, a month dedicated to honoring local farmers and the bountiful produce they provide to our communities. 

Farmers Market Week: Supporting Local Agriculture

Farmers Market Week is a nationwide celebration that highlights the vital role farmers markets play in our communities. These markets provide a direct connection between consumers and local farmers, ensuring access to fresh, nutritious, and sustainably-grown food. At Alstede Farms, we are committed to supporting local agriculture and fostering a sense of community through the farmers markets we participate in each week. Find out more about how to find a farmer’s market in your backyard by viewing our weekly schedule on our website. 

When you visit us at a participating farmer’s market, you’ll find an array of farm-fresh produce, including juicy peaches, sweet corn, peppers, eggplant, garlic, and more. Our friendly team members are passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and are always happy to share tips on how to make the most of your farm-fresh finds.

Pick-Your-Own Flowers: A Blooming Experience

August is also the perfect time to immerse yourself in the beauty of our pick-your-own flower fields. Strolling through rows of vibrant blooms, you’ll have the opportunity to handpick your own bouquet, creating a personalized and memorable experience. Our flower fields are bursting with sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, and other seasonal favorites, all grown with care and dedication to regenerative farming practices. 

Tips for Picking Your Own Flowers:

1. Wear Farm Friendly Footwear: Wearing comfortable, sturdy, closed-toe shoes will help you navigate through the cut your own fields a bit easier. 
2. Morning Visits: The flowers are at their best in the cooler morning hours, and you’ll have the fields mostly to yourself. Learn more about weekday savings on our pick your own page.
3. Cut Stems at an Angle: Using a pair of sharp scissors or pruners, cut the stems at an angle to help the flowers absorb water more efficiently. You may bring your own or rent a pair from us with a refundable deposit. Remember whatever fits in the metal flower “ring” provided is included with your admission. Feel free to bring your own bucket of water in your car to transport on the way home. 
4. Arrange Immediately: Once you get home, arrange your flowers in a vase with fresh water, and enjoy the beauty of your individual hand picked bouquet.

Events and Activities

In addition to the farmers market and flower picking, we have a range of activities to make your visit even more enjoyable. Join us for live music, food trucks, and special events throughout the month including our Peach Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, August 11th. Our farm store is also stocked with delicious homemade goodies, from pies and jams to fresh dairy products as well as Hard Cider from Ironbound Farms. 

Plan Your Visit

We look forward to welcoming you to visit us during Farmers Market Week and beyond, find us Monday’s in East Hanover & Springfield, Tuesday in Elizabeth & Bayonne, Wednesday in South Orange, Thursday in Kearney, Edison, and Union Twp.  Friday in Englewood, West New York, NJ & Roselle. Find us Saturday’s in Bedminster, Madison, & Wayne, and on Sunday at Jersey City Riverview, Somerset County, and Morristown. Whether you’re picking your own flowers, shopping at the market, or enjoying our farm’s activities, we promise a day filled with joy, fresh air, and farm-fresh goodness.

At Alstede Farms, we take pride in offering fresh, locally-grown produce and beautiful flowers that you can pick yourself, making for an unforgettable farm experience. For more information and to stay updated on our events, visit our website and follow us on social media. Let’s celebrate the best of local agriculture together!