Holy Homemade Mozzarella: It's Farmers' Market Time Morris Plains

It's that time of year, when homemade mozzarella and ravioli, freshly baked bread and, of course, New Jersey's best cheesecakes, are once again available in downtown Morris Plains.

The Morris Plains Farmers Market will reopen for its ninth season on Saturday, June 11 in the parking lot on the Merchant Block across the street from the Plaza Restaurant. Market hours are 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., rain or shine.

Vendors returning this year:

1. Ort Farms: Fresh fruits, vegetables, berries, flowers, honey, and sweet corn picked on the morning of the market.
2. Mara's Country Desserts: Freshly baked fruit pies, carrot cakes, cookies, quiches, chocolate mousse, their famous key lime pie and the cheesecake voted best in New Jersey,.
3. Hoboken Farms: Fresh mozzarella cheese, hand-crafted artisan breads, croissants, rolls, sticky buns, homemade ravioli, frozen crab cakes, steaks, burgers & stuffed fish, and Griggstown Chicken Pot pies.
4. Pickles, Olives, etc: Pickles, stuffed olives, stuffed grape leaves, dried fruits, olive oil and nuts.
5. Krakus Deli: Polish favorites like kielbasa, ham, stuffed cabbage, and several varieties of pierogi.

Special events scheduled so far include:

June 11: Free fresh-popped popcorn and prizes from Provident Bank
June 18: Adult Arts & Crafts Show
June 18: Musical entertainment by Carolyn Messina
July 30: Youth Arts & Craft Show
September 17: Adult Arts & Crafts Show

The market operates from June 11 through October 15. Market Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., rain or shine.

According to Council president Sue McCluskey, the farmers market's history goes back to 2003. "The market was the idea of local resident Mary Beth Soutar, who made the suggestion to the Mayor and Council at a council meeting in the spring of 2003," she said. Soutar and McCluskey contacted vendors and were able to open in June of that year.

"The rest is history," McCluskey said.