Meet the Vendor: Hoboken Farms

Welcome to Meet the Vendor, a series on Jersey City Eats profiling different vendors from all the Farmers' Markets around Jersey City. We have a wonderful and constantly growing market scene in Jersey City with unique and dedicated vendors. 

Today's vendor is Hoboken Farms who can be found at various markets throughout Jersey City, New Jersey, and New York.This profile will be a little different because I was able to actually speak with Brad Finkel, owner of Hoboken Farms, and we had a great conversation about the history and growth of Farmers' Markets in Jersey City and his company's story. Thanks for participating, Brad!

Tell us about yourself. 
Since 1992, Hoboken Farms has offered an expertly curated selection of locally baked artisan breads, fresh mozzarella cheese, pasta, and organic, grass fed meats.  Their Big Red Marinara Sauce is sold at Whole Foods Market, Bed Bath & Beyond,  and was named Best Marinara Sauce in the country by the Wall Street Journal and took 2nd place in a taste test run by the Star-Ledger this year.  In 2011, Hoboken Farms opened their first Awesome Sandwich Shop in Summit NJ. In 2012 the company formalized a partnership with Equinox Gyms and opened Hoboken Farms Juice Bars located inside their new Summit and Paramus facilities.

While orginally located in Hoboken, several storm-related problems over the past few years forced Hoboken Farms out of their location and almost caused them to close. Luckily, they were able to relocate to Clifton, but are looking for locations back in Hudson County.

What other markets do you participate in around Jersey City? Any outside of Jersey City?
Hoboken Farms participates in 30 markets across New Jersey and New York. They are one of the original vendors at Hamilton Park and at Van Vorst, for 13 and 12 years respectively and have been at Grove Street since its inception. One of the major appeals, according to Brad, is that Jersey City not only wants to have big farmers' markets, they want to have great ones with great vendors and there's constant effort to make that happen.

The first market they ever participated in was in Englewood in the 90s before farmers' markets were widespread. It was informal, just some friends putting together some tables and vending and the first week, Brad showed up with 50 lbs of mozzarella along with a friend who brought 50 baguettes and they sold out in an hour. The next week, they showed up with 100 lbs of mozzarella and 100 baguettes and they sold out in half hour, and it just hasn't stopped, "Our way of doing business [the markets] sort of became the cool thing to do."

Ahri's Kitchen Launched a Kickstarter

Ahri's Kitchen, a new casual Korean restaurant coming to Downtown Jersey City, launched a kickstarter yesterday.

Andrew and Aena, the force behind Ahri's Kitchen, decided to open their restaurant after finding a lack of quality Korean food in the area. They've named it after their daughter and to keep it a true family effort, Aena's mother, who has restaurant experience in Korea and China, is coming from Korea to handle the kitchen so we should be able to count on authentic, homemade dishes. Currently, they're anticipating having items like kalbi, bulgogi, jeon, and Korean ramen on the menu and will be serving not only meat-oriented Korean dishes, but traditionally vegetarian and vegan ones as well.

Community News

• Congratulations to Sam a.m. on celebrating one year in business! Best wishes are also in order for Sam and Amanda who got married this weekend.
• Rustique Pizza is celebrating their third anniversary this Tuesday and they'll be offering free plain slices from 12pm-5pm.
• Congratulations to Do You Tea, a frequent visitor at the 6th Borough Market, who signed a lease for a space in Jersey City Heights. They will be located at Summit Ave and Zabriskie along with Bloomsbury Square. 
• Koro Koro  got a nice mention in the Village Voice.

Weekend Events

It's Labor Day Weekend and I hope everyone is already in the midst of enjoying the time off and the weather. If you're staying around Jersey City, here is what's going on:

Both locations of Park & Sixth will be closed Saturday - Monday.

Thirty Acres is open this weekend with normal hours, but will be closed on Monday.

Zeppelin Hall will be holding a special Labor Day Weekend event they're calling Steak Haus. $21 gets you 1 lb of the grilled meat of your choice, a sauce, and a side. It runs Saturday - Monday.

Meet the Vendor: Jersey City Veggie Burgers

Welcome to Meet the Vendor, a series on Jersey City Eats profiling different vendors from all the Farmers' Markets around Jersey City. We have a wonderful and constantly growing market scene in Jersey City with unique, dedicated vendors and I encourage everyone to take advantage.

Today's vendor is Jersey City Veggie Burgers who can be found at various markets and events throughout Jersey City and New Jersey and the burgers can also be found at P&K Market on Newark Ave and from Dark Side of the Moo. Thanks for participating, Liz!

Tell us about yourself.

I’m Liz.  I founded Jersey City Veggie Burgers two years ago after watching my wonderful vegetarian husband eat one too many terrible veggie burgers.  I’ve always loved cooking and decided pursuing a career in food seemed like a great fit.  Prior to veggie burgers, I had a worked in the travel industry.  Food was often a key factor in deciding where I’d travel.  No lie, my husband and I planned an entire trip to Trinidad & Tobago based on my desire to eat a shark sandwich. (Have I mentioned that I’m not vegetarian?)

(Liz and her mom, Pat, at the 2013 Mayoral Inauguration. Photo by Metin U. Ergener)

What other markets do you participate in around Jersey City? Any outside of Jersey City?

In Jersey City, I’m at the Riverview Market in JC Heights every Sunday and the Sixth Borough Market behind City Hall every month.  I also participate in the Rutgers Gardens Farmers Market every Friday, and the Princeton Farmers Market every Thursday.

What are your top-sellers?

My top seller is probably the Three Sisters Burger.  It’s inspired by the three agricultural sisters: beans, corn and squash.  It’s a little on the spicy side, and most people who like Tex-Mex food really enjoy it.