Unearth The Voyage
There is a small market tucked along Route 70 in Medford, New Jersey, that has been quietly winning over locals since long before farm-to-table became a trendy phrase. No flashy signs, no social media campaigns, no gimmicks.
Just honest food, real craftsmanship, and people who genuinely care about what they put in front of you. I visited on a Friday morning, and by the time I left, I had a bag full of pretzels, a container of fudge, and a strong opinion that this place deserves far more attention than it gets.
What makes it so compelling is not just the food, but the entire experience of being in a space where tradition is treated as a feature, not a flaw. Every corner of this market tells a story worth reading, and I am going to walk you through all of it.
Where Tradition Sets Up Shop
The Amish Dutch Wagon sits at 109 NJ-70, Medford, NJ 08055, right along one of South Jersey’s busiest commuter routes. You might drive past it a dozen times before you notice it, because it does not announce itself with neon lights or a flashy marquee.
The building itself is actually two separate structures that were joined together over time, connected by a ramped walkway with stairs. It is a quirky setup that gives the whole place a patchwork charm, like a market that grew organically because people kept coming back and demanding more.
Open only on Fridays from 9 AM to 7 PM and Saturdays from 8 AM to 4 PM, this is not a place you can pop into on a Sunday whim. That limited schedule is part of what makes it feel special.
When something is only available twice a week, you plan your trip, and that anticipation turns a routine grocery run into something closer to an event worth circling on your calendar.
The Soft Pretzel That Started It All
Ask anyone who has been to this market more than once, and the soft pretzel will come up within the first thirty seconds. These are not the rubbery, over-salted pretzels you grab from a mall kiosk.
They are made right in front of you, baked fresh, and then dipped in butter before being handed over the counter.
One longtime reviewer who has been visiting since 1998 described coming in after dance class as a kid just for the pretzel. That kind of loyalty does not happen by accident.
The dough is soft and fluffy without being doughy, and the baking soda flavor that can overpower other versions is kept well in check here.
The pretzel dog is another crowd favorite, essentially a hot dog wrapped in that same signature pretzel dough. The cheese hot dog version has its own devoted following too.
A jar of their house mustard pairs well with everything, though at least one reviewer noted to stick with the fresh-baked goods rather than the jarred condiments for the best overall experience worth repeating.
A Butcher Counter Worth the Drive
The butcher section at this market has built a loyal following over many years, and for good reason. Cuts include ribeyes, pork, chicken, and even rabbit, all sourced with a level of care that regular grocery store meat counters rarely match.
One reviewer has been stocking up on pork, beef, chicken, and rabbit regularly for years and shows no sign of stopping.
The ribeyes in particular have earned serious praise. A customer mentioned that even her famously picky husband and daughter were converted after trying them.
That is the kind of endorsement that carries real weight, because picky eaters do not lie about what they like.
What sets this butcher counter apart from the average supermarket experience is the ability to call ahead and request specific cuts. If you have something particular in mind, the staff will do their best to have it ready for you.
It is a level of personal service that feels almost old-fashioned in the best possible way, and it is exactly the kind of thing that keeps regulars coming back every single Friday and Saturday without fail.
Baked Goods That Go Beyond the Pretzel
The bakery section at the Amish Dutch Wagon is the kind of place that makes you reconsider every baked good you have ever bought from a chain store. Apple dumplings are a consistent bestseller, and one reviewer made them a mandatory purchase every single visit because her husband simply would not allow her to leave without them.
The almond cookies have their own fan base, and the bread selection covers the basics while staying true to traditional recipes. Pies, cakes, and other pastries round out a lineup that changes with the seasons and with what the bakers feel like making that week.
That unpredictability is actually part of the appeal.
Nothing here is mass-produced or shipped in from a distribution center. When you pick up a loaf of bread or a slice of pie, you are getting something made by hand using methods that have been passed down through generations of Amish bakers.
One reviewer put it simply: best place to get good pastry. Sometimes the most honest reviews are also the shortest ones, and that short sentence carries more conviction than a paragraph of flowery praise ever could.
Deli and Cheese That Deserve Their Own Fan Club
Beyond the butcher and the bakery, the deli and cheese section adds another reason to make the trip to Medford. The selection is not enormous, but what is there tends to be well-curated and genuinely good.
Cheeses from traditional Amish producers show up here in varieties you will not always find at your standard grocery store.
The homemade sides and salads are worth paying attention to as well. Several reviewers specifically called out the prepared foods as a highlight, noting that the quality justifies the slightly higher price point compared to a big-box supermarket.
When you factor in the sourcing and the craftsmanship, the math actually works out in your favor.
The pot roast with gravy has earned particularly enthusiastic praise, with one visitor describing it as a must-try from the hot food area. The rotisserie chicken is another strong contender, with at least one reviewer picking up a chicken breast and calling it fresh and ideal for summer salads.
This is the kind of deli counter where you come in for one thing and leave with three, because everything looks too good to pass up without at least giving it a chance.
Fresh Produce Straight From the Farm
The produce section at the Amish Dutch Wagon is one of those pleasant surprises that first-time visitors often overlook. There is actually a shed near the entrance that functions as a separate produce stand, and more than one shopper has admitted to walking right past it without realizing it was part of the market.
Jersey peaches in season are a genuine highlight. One reviewer described them as delicious in a way that made it clear this was not casual praise.
The figs were described as tree-ripened and exceptionally sweet, which is the kind of detail that tells you the produce here is not sitting in a cold storage unit for weeks before it reaches the shelf.
Seasonal availability means the produce selection shifts throughout the year, so what you find in July will look very different from what is available in October. That rotation keeps things interesting and gives you a reason to come back across different seasons rather than assuming you have seen everything the market has to offer.
Fresh, local, and seasonal produce at a small Amish market is a combination that is genuinely hard to beat anywhere in South Jersey.
Hand-Dipped Ice Cream Worth the Wait
Kreider ice cream is a name that comes up repeatedly in reviews of this market, and the enthusiasm behind those mentions is hard to ignore. Hand-dipped and served fresh at the counter, this is not soft-serve from a machine or a tub of generic brand scooped with a spoon.
It is the real thing, and people drive to Medford specifically for it.
Kreider Farms is a Pennsylvania-based dairy operation with a reputation for high-quality dairy products, and having their ice cream available at a market like this is a genuine perk. One reviewer specifically listed it as one of the top reasons they keep returning, placing it right alongside the meats and baked goods in terms of overall appeal.
The ice cream counter sits comfortably within the market’s compact layout, which means you can grab a cone and then wander the rest of the space while you enjoy it. That combination of good ice cream and an interesting market to explore makes for a surprisingly fun outing, even if you only planned to stop in for a quick errand.
A scoop of something this good has a way of turning a five-minute stop into a thirty-minute stay.
The Candy Kiosk and Fudge You Will Not Forget
Tucked somewhere in the mix of vendors and counters is a candy kiosk that punches well above its size. The fudge is the star here, described by at least one visitor as excellent and worth seeking out specifically.
Homemade fudge at an Amish market is not a novelty; it is a tradition, and this version lives up to that reputation.
The chocolate selection and other sweets add variety for anyone who wants to pick up something for the drive home or bring a treat back for people who could not make the trip. Candy and confections from Amish producers tend to use simple, quality ingredients without the long list of additives you find in commercially packaged sweets.
The kiosk format keeps things compact and easy to browse, which fits the overall character of the market perfectly. Nothing here wastes space or your time.
You can scan the options quickly, make your choices, and move on to the next vendor without feeling overwhelmed. That efficient, no-fuss layout is actually one of the Amish Dutch Wagon’s quiet strengths, and the candy kiosk is a small but memorable part of what makes the whole experience feel complete and genuinely satisfying.
The People Behind the Counter
One of the most consistent threads running through the reviews of this market is the quality of the people working there. Phrases like warm, friendly, and genuine come up again and again, and it is clear that the staff, both Amish and non-Amish, take hospitality seriously without making it feel performative.
Many of the vendors come from Strasburg, Pennsylvania, which is one of the most well-established Amish communities in the country. That connection to a deep-rooted community shows in the way they interact with customers.
Chef Jacob, mentioned by name in one review, was described as personally serving guests with real warmth and a clear passion for what he does.
That kind of personal touch is increasingly rare in retail food settings. Most modern food experiences are designed for speed and efficiency, which often comes at the cost of any real human connection.
At the Amish Dutch Wagon, the transaction feels secondary to the interaction. You are not just a customer moving through a checkout line; you are someone worth talking to, and that distinction makes the whole visit feel more meaningful than a typical grocery run ever could.
Raw Honey and Specialty Dry Goods
Raw honey is one of those products that varies enormously depending on where it comes from and how it is handled, and the version available at the Amish Dutch Wagon has earned consistent praise. One long-term shopper specifically listed it alongside the ice cream as a standout item, which is a meaningful comparison given how much competition there is in this market for the title of best thing to buy.
The dry goods section adds a practical dimension to the shopping experience. Spices, bulk items, and specialty pantry staples show up here in varieties that are genuinely hard to find at a standard supermarket.
Several reviewers pointed out that this market carries items unavailable at other specialty stores, which makes it a useful destination even for experienced food shoppers who think they have seen everything.
Bringing home a jar of raw honey and a few unusual spices alongside your pretzels and fudge turns the visit into something closer to a full pantry refresh than a casual snack run. The dry goods section rewards careful browsing, so it is worth slowing down and reading labels rather than rushing past on your way to the more obvious attractions that this compact and endlessly interesting little market has to offer.
Why Two Days a Week Is Exactly Enough
The Amish Dutch Wagon is open only on Fridays and Saturdays, and that schedule is not an oversight or a limitation. It is a reflection of how the Amish community structures its week, and it gives the market a rhythm that feels intentional rather than inconvenient.
You plan your visit, you show up ready, and the experience is better for it.
Several reviewers specifically mentioned the two-day schedule as part of what makes the market feel special. When something is not available all the time, you pay more attention when you have it.
The Friday window from 9 AM to 7 PM gives working people a chance to stop after their day, while the Saturday hours from 8 AM to 4 PM are ideal for a morning outing before the afternoon slips away.
For anyone who has watched their local food culture get replaced by chain stores and delivery apps, a place like this carries a kind of quiet significance. It is proof that a small, tradition-driven market can hold its ground and keep drawing people back year after year, not through marketing or trends, but simply by being genuinely good at what it does and staying true to the values that built it in the first place.
