Open M-Sa (8AM-8PM), Su (8AM-7PM).
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Gravitas: Proximity:
Are you craving celeriac or fantasizing for fresh fava? Then walk over the bridge to the Morrisville Garden Farm Market, the cheapest place (nearly) in town for non-local fresh produce. Directly over the Calhoun Street Bridge in Morrisville, this place is so close to Trenton it might as well be part of the city. And it offers fruit and vegetables at prices that put the Trenton grocery stores to shame.
There are three things that set the Garden Farm Market apart from other vegetable vendors:
- It’s inside out: Instead of produce at the fringes and processed food dominating the aisles, this store’s shelves are teeming with fresh veg, with only a few canned or boxed items lining the periphery.
- Variety galore: If it comes from a plant, you can find it here. Fresh beans in the shell, dandelion greens, watercress, parsnips, guava, pineapple, kumquats and persimmons–they’re all regularly offered, and regularly on sale. When you want mustard greens or red cabbage, it’s nice to go to a store where you can be certain it will be stocked.
- Prices prices prices: There simply isn’t a better bargain in our area for fresh produce. Red peppers (which are often my signal of vegetable pricing) are often between $.99-$1.49 per pound, and often I leave with a cart teeming full of veg for only $20-$25.
The produce quality is absolutely acceptable, but we aren’t talking about gleaming Whole Foods veggies here. The market employs a team who goes around chopping any offending brown bits off of the veg, so if that broccoli has a really short stalk you know it’s been on the shelf for a while. Nothing is listed as organic, and judging by the amount of out-of-season items offered, you can be sure that these plants have made a long trip to get here. Nevertheless, with this abundance of options, you’re always sure to find something fresh and ready to go.
While produce is the main thing, the groceries, deli, and fish sections contribute to the mix. Along the right hand wall (as you enter) you’ll find freezers with Asian, Polish, and Latino food items, including some great frozen perogies and sauerkraut. Underneath the veggie bins you’ll find shelves holding an array of related grocery items: canned and dried beans, pastas, spices, cooking sauces. For the non-perishable items you may find better selection and prices in a dedicated Asian food market or a conventional supermarket, but if you’re out of Hoisin Sauce for tonight’s vegetable stir fry, it’s nice to be able to purchase it here.
Garden Farm Market also has a full deli (left side of store) and a very large fish counter (rear-right). The deli counter sells standard Boars’ Head cold cuts, plus a selection of imported Polish smoked meat products: hams, bacon, and sausages. These are usually quite tasty and great value. You can also find a good selection of traditional eastern European breads, mostly rye in several different sizes, shapes, and crustiness, brought in from regional bakeries.
The market stocks a wide range of Polish canned goods, as well as a single shelf of condiments, beans and grains, and other pantry staples. You can buy milks and almond milks, juices, tofu, and a surprisingly large number of cheeses, as well as potted plants and fresh flowers.
Bring cash if you are just purchasing a few things, they have a $10 credit card minimum (and they don’t accept American Express).
The deli has the absolute best kielbasa. Even better than the Polish markets I used to go to in Trenton. And this comes from someone who has eaten kielbasa her whole life and I’m very picky.
Thanks for the tip and review! I’ve been looking for a good place to buy produce since I moved to the area from South Jersey where I had Produce Junction nearby.