Farmers Market season is back! However, new social distancing guidelines mean you can expect an entirely new vendor layout, face masks will be mandatory, and shoppers can’t touch any produce.
If it sounds complicated, it’s really not. The Grove Plaza Farmers Market (which returns on Monday, May 11) will expand to the Pedestrian Plaza giving shoppers and vendors more space. Shoppers will also be able to make their purchases online for quick and easy pickup.
The historic special improvement district (HDSID) is working with Local Line so shoppers can make their purchases now and pick them up Monday evening. Currently, only two vendors are signed up on the site. However, Stony Hill Farms and Ort Farms have set up virtual storefronts where you can shop for produce, meat, pies, and more. Here’s how to place your orders.
Ordering from Stony Hill Farms
Stony Hill Farms has two cutoff dates for its Grove Market. For Monday pickups, you must order by Saturday at 3pm. For Thursday pickups, you must order by Tuesday at 3pm. (Pickups are made at Grove Plaza on Monday or Thursday evening). The farm is offering some new items, which I’ve never seen them offer before such as avocados, pineapple, and kiwi. To begin shopping:
- Head to www.stonyhillfarmsestore.com and scroll down to “featured items”
- Fill your virtual basket
- By default, it has Chester, NJ, as the pickup spot. Change that to “Stony Hill Farms Grove PATH Monday” option. (The Thursday option will likely be added later).
- Enter your payment info, etc.
- You’re done!
Ordering from Ort Farms
The Ort Farms e-store uses the same platform as Stony Hill. Likewise, Ort Farms has some new items like avocados, bananas, and Skippy peanut butter. They’re also offering new “boxes” such as an “Essentials Box” (half gallon of whole milk, 12 eggs, loaf of sliced bread, 1 lb butter) and a “Breakfast Box” (1 lb. bacon, 12 eggs, loaf of sliced bread, bottle of orange juice, bunch of bananas, container of strawberries) for $20 and $35, respectively. Ort Farms doesn’t appear to have a cutoff date for Monday pickups. They also let you check out with Google Pay. To begin shopping:
- Head to www.ortfarmsestore.com and click on “order now”
- Choose the “Jersey City” option for pickup
- Fill your virtual basket
- Enter your payment info, etc.
- You’re done!
