There’s something peculiar about the town of Wayne. We all know what it is. It’s a town without a downtown. Without a magnet to draw people in, Wayne needs more de facto areas and events to come together and feel connected, whether that’s at the Community Center, Jack’s Super Foodtown, Trader Joe’s, fireworks night, or Wayne Day.
And every Saturday, there’s a microcosm of community at the Wayne Farmer’s Market, right at the town hall. It’s still going strong, continuing the tradition that started in 2019, before the changeover from the Wayne YMCA to the Wayne Community Center.
“I think that’s the thing that makes our farmer’s market special. There’s a real sense of community here,” says Sophia Cedeno, who manages the event.
Sophia’s take was echoed by several of the vendors that have been participating in the market. “We have some regulars that come back and look for us just about each time we’re here,” says the family who run Doughboy on the Rise, a booth that sells baked goods by their son, pastry chef Greg Puluse. “It’s a great way for him to establish a following in the area, and it’s really helpful for those who are just starting to get a business going, even if you don’t have a traditional brick and mortar location yet.”
“We go to a lot of farmer’s markets in the area, and this one does stand out from many of the others, even the larger ones, because of how much of a community feel there is here,” explains Emily Fine, representing her brother Jeremy’s Home Cooked Meals business, based in Bergen County. Jeremy is a chef who delivers healthy, restaurant-quality food with a dedication to clean, natural ingredients.
You might notice that there’s a strong family trend involved in farmer’s markets. Many of the vendors that come are small, family businesses that truly are of their community. Nothing here is mass-produced. There’s an intimacy here, a pride in what they offer that runs deep. The actual farmers bring you their wares literally from farm to table. Others bring you their recipes and talents from their own tables.
“I think there’s a real trend for people to really know where their food is coming from,” observes Sophia. “One of the farmers is constantly running out of eggs at each event - he consistently breaks his sales number each time he’s here. Families tell him that their kids won’t eat chicken, but they’ll eat his. It’s quality you can’t find just anywhere.”
Each weekend there’s something new and different among the usual farmer’s market fare at the Wayne Farmer’s Market. And Sophia is hard at work to expand things and bring in even more unique, family-friendly attractions to add to the mix.
“One of the things that I love to see is when someone comes in with a very modest beginning - just a table and not much more. But then as time goes on, they add displays, bigger and better signs, and just start to take off. It’s even a great place for kids to get involved and start their own businesses for their homemade bracelets or something that they can make themselves. It’s great to be able to see that and help to make that happen.”
So whether you’re a regular coming for your favorite vendor, someone looking for farm-fresh local produce, or just want to stop by to see what booths are featured this week, this tiny little oasis of a Wayne downtown will be there for you.
The Wayne Farmer’s Market’s outdoor season runs Saturdays from May until the end of November in the parking lot of Wayne Town Hall, 475 Valley Road. From December through April they move inside to the Wayne Community Center on the first and third Saturday of the month at 1 Pike Drive.