For two Thursdays every month, Hinds Plaza, which sits in front of the Princeton Public Library, is transformed into a quaint yet lovely farmers market from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is what 42 minutes looked like at the Princeton Farmers’ Market on Thursday, Feb. 10.
11:01 a.m.
I stopped shivering from the frigid weather to look at the now-open market before me. The stalls were situated in the crux of Hinds Plaza. Restaurants and the Public Library surrounded the assortment of 10 or so stalls. Vendors were putting the final touches on their loaded booths.
11:03 a.m.
Before I could count the number of stalls, an older lady approached me with a smile and asked if I would donate to the food pantry. I told her that I did not have cash on me. She responded that they typically take produce donations, but that there was little produce at the market today because of the cold. As I began my initial stroll of the market, I realized the woman was right. While there was no fresh produce, there were still plenty of worthy products.
11:06 a.m.
After entering the market, I took stock of my surroundings. There were 15 stalls featuring a wide range of goods, such as fresh breads, granolas, jams, cheese, empanadas, pastries, yarn, and more. The market was not crowded; fewer than 10 guests were browsing the stalls. One or two looked like students, but most were older individuals. Bracing the cold, vendors were bundled up in hats, scarves, and jackets. Some talked to each other in the absence of potential customers.
11:10 a.m.
My first stop was Cherry Grove Farm, a stand decorated with a farmhouse flair. A bucket of artisanal cheese rested on a red gingham tablecloth. Next to the cheese, there was a warm tray of biscuits and a signup sheet for food-making and tasting classes.
11:15 a.m.
I noticed a lady dressed in a stylish, tulip-covered coat stopping to talk to many of the vendors.
11:17 a.m.
I stopped by the Abe’s Acres Farm stand, which featured jars of salsas, pasta sauces, and seasonings. Another shopper asked if there was sugar in the ketchup. The vendor told her that it was sweetened with monkfruit. As I left the Abe’s Acres Farm stand, I overheard a vendor saying that the sun was fighting to come out. I couldn't have agreed more. Periodically, rays of sun would break through the thick clouds, but it was never enough to sufficiently add warmth to the plaza. Next, I sampled a tasty chai granola from The Granola Bar stand.
11:20 a.m.
After I left the granola stall, I crossed the plaza and visited Tript Foods. The stall had various Indian goods, including prepared meals, bottled sauces, and cold drinks like mango lassi. I promised the vendor I would return on my way out to buy the mango lassi.
11:25 a.m.
My next stop was Little Balkan, which featured savory cornbread, sesame cookies, and pastries. The kind lady behind the stand asked me about my day, and we discussed her savory cornbread. She described her love of eating it in the morning with yogurt. I bought a cinnamon apple pastry.
11:30 a.m.
I took my dessert and sat at one of the many empty tables next to the market. The pastry was wonderfully sweet without being overbearing. By the time I finished eating the flaky confection, my tan palms had been burned red from the cold. In the warmer months, I envision a lively market, bustling with adults on their lunch breaks and students stopping by between classes. While the cold was a deterrent to many visitors that day, the kind vendors kept the heart of the market beating. Everyone had a warm smile, discussed the cold, offered samples, and asked about my day.
11:38 a.m.
Before I left, I stopped at three more vendors. First, I returned to the Cherry Grove Farm stand to sample their delicious Havilah Reserve cheese. Then, I visited the Little Star Foods stand, where I was immediately offered a taste of a powdered, sugar-dusted date cookie. Finally, I went back to Tript Foods to purchase a mango lassi for my friend.
11:43 a.m.
With a satisfied, sample-filled stomach, I backed away from my final stall. As I left the market, the sun partially broke through the clouds, washing the plaza in a pale yellow haze. More shoppers milled around the market, and the vendors kept busy selling their wares.
Meredith Sneed is a contributing writer for The Prospect from Savannah, Ga. She can be reached at ms1290@princeton.edu.
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