Guide to Reuse & Recycle Pumpkins Post Halloween Holiday
Every year from mid-September until Halloween we flock to local farmer’s markets to buy and collect fresh, bright orange pumpkins for painting, carving and decorations. But when the calendar turns to November many get tossed in the trash awaiting garbage pickup and end up rotting in a landfill. If you’re wondering if there is a more eco-friendly way to recycle pumpkins, refer to our list below of easy ways you can repurpose your pumpkin after Halloween ends! Please keep in mind that many of these methods can only be applied to unpainted pumpkins as the toxins in paint can be harmful to the environment, humans and wildlife animals.
8 Simple Ways to Recycle, Repurpose & Reuse Halloween Pumpkins
Donate: Almost all zoos, animal shelters, farms and community gardens will happily accept donated pumpkins and repurpose them for compost, animal food and more! Call around to local farms and organizations to confirm they will take your pumpkin before you make the drive.Roast Pumpkin Seeds: A classic and healthy snack that is so simple to make! Scoop the innards out of the pumpkin and separate the seeds from the guts. Wash thoroughly, dry and toss with oil & your preferred seasonings and make until roasted.Make Pumpkin Puree: As Thanksgiving is now approaching, you’ll probably be buying lots of pumpkin pie. If you want to recycle your pumpkin and save some money, make your own puree for pies and soups!Pumpkin Planter: Add soil to your pumpkin about 1/3 full, place your plant inside the pumpkin and top with more soil. Place the entire pumpkin planter into your garden. Over time it will naturally break down adding an organic fertilizer!Feed the Wildlife: Deer, rabbits, mice, squirrels and chipmunks all love to much on non-painted pumpkins! Cut yours into pieces and leave it in a rural area at a safe distance from your home.Create Compost: Pumpkins break down very quickly and make a great addition to your compost pile! To prevent unwanted plants from sprouting make sure you remove the seeds.Bird Feeder: Birds will love to nibble seeds out of a fresh pumpkin or jack-o-lantern hanging in your backyard!Plant the Seeds: If you’re an avid gardener you can plant the seeds for next season!Visit Fiorentino’s Farm Market this fall season for fresh fruits, vegetables and seasonal Halloween decoration items! We’re open daily through Halloween from 7AM – 8PM, call 609-561-0300 for questions or more information.
As a local farmer’s market, Fiorentino’s Farm Market has a moral responsibility to lessen our impact on the environment. Learning how to reduce food waste in your home not only helps to save you money, but it directly benefits the planet by reducing gas emissions, water waste and landfill overflow. Fiorentino's Farm Market has provided 11 easy ways to help you reduce food waste in your home and save you some money on your weekly shopping trips.
10 Easy Tips to Reduce Food Waste & Save Money
Freeze: Almost anything you cook can be stored in the freezer for a few weeks and used or eaten at a later date. Similarly, overly ripe fruits or wilted vegetables can be frozen then used later in smoothies, soups and other such recipes.Meal Plan: Planning a weekly menu helps to reduce food waste, because you know exactly what you’re eating each day and only buying the ingredients you need for those specific recipes. Meal planning will also help you save money by reducing impulse buys at the store.Write a List & Stick to it: While planning, write a list of the ingredients you’ll need for each meal and bring that list to the store with you. Stick to your list as much as possible. This will ensure you only buy what you need and nothing will go to waste. Make sure you check your fridge & pantry before you go to ensure you’re not buying items you already have!Store Food Properly: Get the most out of your fruits, vegetables and other seasonal farmers market items by understanding how to store them properly. Read our in-depth blog to learn more about produce storage tips.Use your Scraps: Many people believe that the stalks, peelings and other scraps should be discarded as they do not have any use. On the contrary, these items are great ingredients for broths, soups & pesto.Pack your Lunch: Probably the easiest way to reduce food waste & save yourself some money. If you have leftovers from the previous night’s dinner, pack it in a container and bring it with you to work or school for an effortless & tasty lunch.Get Creative: The ability to properly reduce food waste does not always mean re-cooking leftovers and scraps, sometimes you have to get creative! Excess coffee grinds can be used in your garden soil or sprinkled in the grass to ward off mosquitos. Mash up an overly ripe avocados & mix it with some honey for an all-natural hair mask!Keep Inventory: Keep a log of the foods you find you’re throwing away the most, this way you can either avoid buying them altogether or buy much less for future recipes.Customize Takeout Meals: Eating out can account for a lot of food being throw away, but customizing your meal can help to reduce food waste. Be sure to read the ingredients in your meal and if you do not like something simply ask your waiter to omit it from your dish. Similarly, if your order comes with a side that you do not care for, ask if you can substitute it for something else or eliminate it from your meal.Start a Compost: A bit of a challenge to start on your own, but a compost is an excellent way to reduce waste by turning food scraps into fertilizer. Some townships have a community compost pile, call your local municipality to see if there is one available where you live.Share the Wealth: Leftovers that you do not want to freeze and may go bad before you can eat them, share with your neighbors!
Benefits of Zero Waste Lifestyle
The benefits of reducing food waste & practicing a zero waste lifestyle are endless, not only for your wallet, but for the environment. We hope you’ll find these tips to reduce food waste and implement them into your daily life. Even minimal changes in the way you shop and cook can help reduce your carbon footprint.
Benefits of Buying Produce at a Local Farmers Market
Living in the Garden State affords residence a great opportunity to shop for farm fresh produce at any of the estimated 150 farmer’s markets scattered throughout the state. Fiorentino’s Farm Market, located in Hammonton, NJ, proudly offers a variety of rotating seasonal fruits, vegetables, flowers and many other market items for the local community to enjoy. The farmers market benefits are bountiful, from the abundance of fresh produce items to affordability and social experience. Read Fiorentino’s Farm Market’s list below to learn the many benefits to shopping at your local farmer’s market.
10 Farmers Market Benefits: Shop Local & Save
Wide Variety. Farmer’s markets are known for having hard-to-find and unique produce items that grocery stores won’t normally carry. Be adventurous and try something new!Minimally Processed. Produce found at a local market is usually less processed than fruits and vegetables found at a grocery store. Fruits and vegetables without all of the added chemicals, antibiotics and modifications are healthier and contain more nutrients.Support Local Community. Buying local means more of your money stays within the community, rather than going to big, brand name corporations.Affordable. A big misconception is that local & organic means more money, but at a farmer’s market that is not the case. Not only are the prices less expensive at the produce market, compared to the grocery store, you get more for your money (per pound) and it lasts twice as long!More Nutritious. Produce pumped with fewer chemicals then sold when they’re perfectly ripe means they can hold more nutritional value.Tastes Better. Grown and picked at the perfect ripeness, then delivered directly to the farmer’s market means you’re receiving high quality, super fresh produce.Seasonal. You’ll find a large assortment of fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables which rotate all year long. Check out our chart of seasonal farmers market produce available.Cut your Carbon Footprint. Produce at the farmer’s market has usually traveled less miles, which reduces the emissions into the atmosphere. Furthermore, as our farmers market shopping tips blog points out, shoppers tend to use reusable bags, cutting down on plastic waste.Fresh, Quality Produce: Farmer’s market produce is known for its quality and freshness. This is because is it locally grown with less chemicals and picked at the perfect ripeness.Social Experience: Besides the abundance of fresh, quality produce available, a trip to the local farmer’s market is a great way to bring the community together. Talk to the farmers, learn more about community businesses, even share recipes to get your fellow shoppers inspired.
Produce Market in Hammonton, NJ
Now that you’ve learned all about the farmer’s market benefits, come take a trip to Fiorentino’s Farm Market in Hammonton, NJ. Browse through our isles of colorful fruits and vegetables, but don’t skip over our array of other delicious food items including a fresh bakery, homemade jarred products, snacks and so much more. Make sure you know how to properly store your produce once you bring them home. Visit our farmer’s market in Hammonton, NJ, for questions call 609-561-0300.
Maintain Quality & Freshness with these Produce Storage Tips
The popularity of farmers markets skyrockets in the summer when there is an abundance of in-season produce available to purchase. It is tempting to fill your cart with limited available and pantry-staple produce with the hopes of whipping up delicious recipes every day of the week using your super-fresh produce. One of the many purposes and benefits to shopping at a local farmers market is the reduction of food waste. But, this can only remain true if you know exactly how to store those fresh and local fruits and vegetables you’ve just bought. Fiorentino’s Farm Market in Hammonton, NJ offers produce storage tips & tricks to ensure your favorite seasonal items stay fresh as long as possible.
6 Produce Storage Tips to Get the Most out of your Fruits & Veggies
Don’t leave your produce in the heat. If you have other errands to run on the day of your farmers market trip, it is best to save the market for last. High temperatures and direct sunlight can cause your produce to wilt & lose flavor very quickly.Only buy what you need. On the topic of reducing food waste, only buy what you really need & splurge on a few additional items. It is helpful to meal plan ahead of time so you know exactly what fruits and vegetables will go into your meals.Separate fruits & veggies.Fruits emit high levels of ethylene gas, which is what helps them to ripen. But, when vegetables are exposed to the gas they will spoil much quicker than normal.Do not cut. Whenever possible, wait to cut your fruits and vegetables until you’re ready to eat or cook. Of course if you plan on bringing a watermelon or fruit salad to work or school, precut produce can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for a few days.Wash berries in water & vinegar. Mix 3 cups water with 1 cup white vinegar into a bowl and use to wash berries such as strawberries, blueberries, blackberries & more. After you’ve rinsed them well, drain into a colander and rinse with running water. Dry completely and store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.Discard damaged produce. Once you’re home from the market, sort all of your produce. Spoiled or mashed produce does sneak through from time to time. They need to be removed as quickly as possible as it could lead to quicker spoil time for the entire bunch.Know where to put your produce: The most important produce storage tip: understand where your produce needs to be kept. Tomatoes, onions and garlic are stored at room temperature, while berries, zucchini, eggplants and carrots go in the fridge and potatoes should be stored in a cool dry place. Always verify where your produce should be stored to ensure the longest shelf life possible.
Shop Fiorentino’s Farm Market in Hammonton, NJ
At Fiorentino’s Farm Market we pride ourselves on making sure our customers have access to affordable, farm fresh produce and the means to keep them fresh for as long as possible. Shop our farmers market seasonally to find an array of produce items that change with the seasons. Besides fresh produce, we also offer dairy products, nuts, a bakery and snack shop right on premise! Visit our farmers & produce market in Hammonton, NJ or call 609-561-0300 with any questions.
Shopping at your local farmers market is not only beneficial, but a great way to eat healthy & delicious produce, as well as support the local economy. A trip to the farmers market is nothing like your usual weekly trip to the grocery store, it is a unique fresh culinary experience that can sometimes be intimidating. Fiorentino’s Farm Market in Hammonton, NJ has created a list of the top 10 tips for shopping at a local farmers market. Here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of your experience whether it’s your first time or 100th time visiting!
10 Tips for Local Farmers Market Shopping
Buy in Season: Since farmers markets source produce from nearby farms, the selection of fruits and vegetables is limited to what’s in season. While you can’t expect to buy tomatoes in April, you will find a huge assortment of fresh, seasonal, rotating vegetables and fruits throughout the year. There’s always something new and exciting available!Make it a Day Trip: Unlike a trip to the grocery store, your local farmers market can be a culinary adventure for the entire family!Be Prepared: If you plan on running other errands afterwards, be sure to bring a cooler along so your fresh produce does not wilt throughout the day. When you get home, make sure you know how to store your produce.Ask Questions: While grocery store employees don’t know where the produce comes from, the market employees know about the food they’re selling.Bring Large Reusable Bags: Besides the environmental benefits of shopping with reusable bags, they’re sturdier than plastic ones and can hold the large amount of produce we’re sure you’ll be purchasing. If you’re a frequent local farmers market shopper, consider buying a wheeled cart for added convenience.Buy Bulk Quantities: While Fiorentino’s Farm Market regularly boasts affordable prices, buying in bulk gives you the best deals of produce in peak harvest.Pick your Time Wisely: If you don’t mind a crowd or waiting in line then feel free to head out to our farmers market any time of the day. But, if you’re looking for the freshest produce and the largest selection, be sure to arrive first thing in the morning (bonus tip: come during the week).Be Spontaneous: Of course, come with a list in order to stick to your budget, but if you can splurge on hard to find items or something you’ve never tried before.Embrace Whole Foods: Don’t hesitate to put unpeeled carrots into your basket, or pickup those beets with some dirt still on them. These are signs that the produce is minimally processed!Spread the Word: Support local businesses like the Fiorentino’s Farm Market in Hammonton, NJ and other small companies by spreading the word about your awesome experience. Your recommendations and support ensure small, community-based businesses can succeed in the long run.
Fresh Produce Market in Hammonton, NJ
Fiorentino’s Farm Market is more than just a produce market! Besides our large assortment of fruits and vegetables, we also offer dairy products, nuts and a snack shop for the healthy and indulgent. Our onsite bakery is very popular in the community for breads, pies, cakes, cookies and much more! Lastly, stop by our flower market for beautiful flowers and potted plants to brighten your home. Visit our local farmers market in Hammonton, NJ or for questions call 609-561-0300.
Every year from mid-September until Halloween we flock to local farmer’s markets to buy and collect fresh, bright orange pumpkins for painting, carving and decorations. But when the calendar turns to November many get tossed in the trash awaiting garbage pickup and end up rotting in a landfill. If you’re wondering if there is a more eco-friendly way to recycle pumpkins, refer to our list below of easy ways you can repurpose your pumpkin after Halloween ends! Please keep in mind that many of these methods can only be applied to unpainted pumpkins as the toxins in paint can be harmful to the environment, humans and wildlife animals.
As a local 
Write a List & Stick to it: While planning, write a list of the ingredients you’ll need for each meal and bring that list to the store with you. Stick to your list as much as possible. This will ensure you only buy what you need and nothing will go to waste. Make sure you check your fridge & pantry before you go to ensure you’re not buying items you already have!
Keep Inventory: Keep a log of the foods you find you’re throwing away the most, this way you can either avoid buying them altogether or buy much less for future recipes.
Living in the Garden State affords residence a great opportunity to shop for farm fresh produce at any of the estimated 150 
Wide Variety. Farmer’s markets are known for having hard-to-find and unique produce items that grocery stores won’t normally carry. Be adventurous and try something new!
Tastes Better. Grown and picked at the perfect ripeness, then delivered directly to the 
The popularity of farmers markets skyrockets in the 
Shop Fiorentino’s Farm Market in Hammonton, NJ
Shopping at your local farmers market is not only 
Fiorentino’s Farm Market is more than just a