Sourcing fresh, high-quality ingredients is essential for any food business in New Jersey. With its abundance of local farms, specialty suppliers, and distribution networks, the Garden State offers numerous options to ensure your dishes feature the finest ingredients. Whether you’re a chef, restaurant owner, or food entrepreneur, here’s a guide to some of the best places to source local ingredients in New Jersey.
Farm-to-Table Distributors
A staple in the New Jersey local food supply chain, Zone 7 connects chefs and food businesses with over 120 sustainable farms in the region. Their focus is on fresh, seasonal ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, dairy, and proteins sourced from New Jersey and Pennsylvania farms. Zone 7 provides a convenient online ordering system and delivers directly to kitchens, ensuring that the produce you receive is harvested at peak freshness.
Known for its 100% local sourcing model, Harvest Drop works with over 75 different producers throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. They specialize in a wide variety of seasonal produce, proteins, eggs, mushrooms, and other specialty ingredients. Harvest Drop’s unique approach allows for ingredients to be delivered to customers within 24 hours of harvest. Harvest Drop’s user-friendly online ordering system makes it easy for businesses to browse available products and plan their menus around local, seasonal offerings.
National & Regional Distributors with Local Focus
Ace Natural is a distributor of organic and sustainably produced foods, serving the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut areas. They offer a wide range of products, including local and regional options, such as organic produce, bulk grains, dairy, and plant-based proteins, making them a key resource for businesses looking to incorporate sustainable ingredients into their menus.
Although headquartered in New York, Baldor Specialty Foods is a major supplier of fresh produce and specialty items to New Jersey businesses. They offer an impressive selection of locally sourced products, including fruits, vegetables, meats, and artisanal goods. Baldor’s commitment to quality and their efficient distribution network make them a popular choice for chefs and food service professionals throughout the region. Their online platform makes ordering simple, and they offer flexible delivery options for New Jersey-based customers.
Based in South Jersey, Gargiulo Produce is a family-owned wholesale produce distributor that has been serving the tri-state area for decades. Known for their commitment to sourcing high-quality fruits and vegetables, Garguilo Produce works closely with both local farms and national suppliers to ensure a consistent supply of fresh products year-round. Their extensive inventory and reliable delivery service make them a valuable partner for restaurants and food businesses looking to incorporate both local and global ingredients into their dishes.
Based in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Regional Access is a distributor that specializes in local and regional products from the Northeast. They offer a diverse selection of artisanal foods, beverages, and specialty items, many of which are sourced from small producers in New Jersey and neighboring states. Their focus on supporting local economies and sustainable practices aligns well with businesses seeking to emphasize locally sourced ingredients.
Riviera Produce offers a vast selection of local and nationally procured produce, dairy, and specialty items to chefs throughout New Jersey and the broader Tri-State Area. By balancing local partnerships with national sourcing, Riviera Produce ensures that New Jersey’s food businesses have access to both the freshest local ingredients and a vast selection of products from across the country.
UNFI (United Natural Foods, Inc.)
UNFI is one of North America’s largest distributors of natural and organic foods, offering a diverse selection of locally sourced and specialty products to retailers and food service providers across New Jersey. Their focus on sustainability and organic offerings helps businesses incorporate eco-friendly and regional ingredients into their offerings. With both a national reach and an emphasis on local sourcing, UNFI connects New Jersey businesses to fresh produce, groceries, and hard-to-find specialty items.
Farmers’ Markets and Local Farms
New Jerseyans are lucky to have access to approximately 150 community farmers’ markets across the state, providing direct access to fresh, seasonal produce from local farms. These markets offer an excellent opportunity for chefs and food businesses to build relationships with farmers and source unique, high-quality ingredients. Many of the community farmers’ markets are open for six months out of the year, and winter markets are becoming more popular as farmers extend their growing season through the use of high tunnels. Find a market near you via one of the following guides:
Edible Jersey’s list of farmers’ markets is divided by county and includes the dates and times for each market, as well as a link to each market’s website.
The Jersey Fresh website provides a searchable database to locate on-farm markets, community farmers’ markets, wineries, breweries, and more. You can also search for pick-your-own locations.
Bringing New Jersey’s Best to Your Menu
New Jersey’s rich agricultural landscape and innovative food distribution networks provide ample opportunities for sourcing local, high-quality ingredients. By partnering with distributors like Zone 7 and Harvest Drop, or working directly with local farms and specialty suppliers, food businesses can create menus that showcase the best of what the Garden State has to offer. This commitment to local sourcing not only ensures fresh, flavorful dishes but also supports the state’s agricultural community and promotes sustainable food systems.
Garden State Kitchen offers convenient cold, frozen, and dry storage subscriptions, allowing you to effectively manage and store all your ingredients in one place.
Have a resource to add to this list? Send us a note and let us know!