Farmers market opens for summer

By Rose Sgarlato
SPARTA — Six years ago Sparta Farmers Market debuted in town with just six vendors. Fast forward to last Saturday’s opening day of the summer season, making founders Ben Del Coro and Mitch Morrison proud of the market’s success, now 40 vendors strong.
In what has become an all-year round market with the winter season being held at Sparta Middle School, Sparta Farmers Market was rated in the top five in the state of New Jersey by website onlyinyourstate.com.
There was a steady flow of people shopping on Saturday for anything from local organic vegetables and handmade soaps, to dog treats and Champagne kobucha tea. And it’s one-stop shopping because lunch is available in many forms: pizza, cheeses, breads and hummus.
Del Coro highlighted some of the seven newer vendors on a walk through the market.
An eco-friendly tea company Steep for the Trees package their teas in biodegradable materials and owners Melisse L’abeille and John Lancelotti say that boxes come with 20 environmentally neutral tea bags.
“We have aligned with Trees That Feed Foundation — they are incredibly supportive and a portion of our proceeds goes to them,” Lancelotti said.
Trees That Feed is an organization that plants fruit trees in developing countries, ultimately yielding jobs and food to those communities.
Shopper Kayleigh Callan sampled the citrus hibiscus.
“It’s really delicious. I am going to buy it for my friend for her birthday,” she said.
Another interesting and possibly healing drink was from new vendor Champagne Tea Kombucha, who came from Pound Ridge NY. It’s the tea's first year on the market and is available in the tri-state area. Father and daughter team James and Rainer Hibler said their kombucha tea that was recently voted Best In Westchester.
“My Dad cured kidney stones with this probiotic drink,” Rainer Hibler said. “It is also known to cure acid reflux.”
Over at Emily’s Hearth, a brand new wood-fired pizza company, owner Emily Downs was educating the crowd on why her pizza is different.
“I use organic GMO-free flour and all local ingredients,” Downs said. “I ferment the dough twice to make it more accessible and allergy free. Each pizza is unique and a work of art.”
Downs worked at some very notable bakeries and pizzerias in Italy, San Francisco and New York. A wood-fired portable oven that had an interior dome imported from Italy was on hand, and Emily’s Hearth is available for private parties.
A popular returnee to the market is Hummus Boss. James Matar, in his third year at the market, is known for his home crafted Mediterranean cuisine in a variety of hummus and dips. Usually his traditional hummus is sold out very early in the day.
And if locals are looking for traditional green market stuff, there is plenty to offer at Sparta Farmers Market. Kittatinny Mountain Farm showcased their certified organic produce. In season now are salad turnips, kale, radishes and green leaf lettuces.
Live music is performed on a weekly basis, and Del Coro is bringing in professional chefs for cooking demonstrations.
Sparta Farmers Market at Sparta Health & Wellness, 89 Sparta Ave., is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For a list of participating vendors and more information go to www.spartafarmersmarket.org or Facebook.