Farmers setting up shop Saturdays in Jamesburg
Second-year market moved to church lot on Gatzmer Ave.
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer
It's a bigger market and officials hope a better one as well. The Jamesburg Farmers Market opened Saturday, a week earlier than last year's inaugural run, with more vendors and a new location. The vendors that last year set up shop on Saturdays along West Railroad Avenue can now be found in the lot outside the Jamesburg Presbyterian Church, Gatzmer Avenue and Church Street.

SCOTT FRIEDMAN Barbara Gibbons of Jamesburg picks out a head of lettuce during the Jamesburg Revitalization Coalition's season-opening farmers market Saturday. The expanded market has been moved to the parking lot of the Jamesburg Presbyterian Church, Gatzmer Avenue and Church Street, and will be held on Saturdays through Oct. 3.

The farmers market will run every Saturday through Oct. 3, giving residents a chance to get produce that's about as fresh as can be, said Elliott Stroul, president of the Jamesburg Revitalization Coalition, which organized the program.

"You can't get any fresher than picked the night before or day of, which is why people should come," Stroul said.

SCOTT FRIEDMAN The Nescak family — Patrick, Susan, Nicholas, 8, and Christian, 3 — try the Sweet Jersey Kettle Korn at the Jamesburg farmers market Saturday in parking lot of the Jamesburg Presbyterian Church, Gatzmer Avenue and Church Street. The market includes more vendors than last year's inaugural session. It will be held on Saturdays through Oct. 3.

Organizers worked hard to increase the number of vendors from last year in hopes of bringing more business to the borough. Stroul said the market, which had four sellers last year, should have 10 vendors on Saturday, and 12 by early July.

"Our goal was 12 all along," he said.

Because the market opened a bit early, not all the vendors made it on Saturday. Also, produce is not as plentiful as it will be later in the season.

"But within a couple of weeks we will see that change a little bit," Stroul said. "One farmer did not show because he has nothing to sell yet. Another vendor had family issues and couldn't make it."

Among the vendors returning this year are Von Thun Farms of South Brunswick; Farmer Al's of Monroe; White Ginkgo Apiary of Monroe, selling honey and beeswax products; and Sweet Jersey Kettle Corn. New vendors include the Millstone River Creamery and the Blue Rooster Cafe and Bakery. Paperwork was still being completed last week for other interested vendors, organizers said.

The Jamesburg Presbyterian Men's Group, the borough Historical Association and the revitalization coalition will also participate in the market.

Stroul said the goal is to get at least 200 residents out to the market each week. Last year's goal was more than accomplished when the market averaged 450 people a week, he said.

"Our expectations were absolutely exceeded," Stroul said of the first year. "We are hoping to grow on that this year."

Stroul said he and Diane Lemelman, market manager, have done a lot of work to promote the market to potential vendors. "Some of it is hard work and some of it is luck," he said, adding that certain vendors simply read about the market in various publications.

In addition to food, the market will host special events such as wellness and nutrition sessions, including a June 27 presentation and Q&A session on nutrition and dietary issues. The coalition also plans to hold a concert to raise funds for the Deacon's Food Pantry at the Presbyterian Church.

The church parking lot was chosen as the site of this year's market due to safety issues presented by last year's location, a busy section of West Railroad Avenue with two-way traffic.

"We had to look at a broader issue this year, which is safety," Stroul said. "I am not sure why they would not close off the area we used last year. We said we can't be there if you do not close off the street."

However, the church agreed to host the market. "It's a logical choice because it is only a block from the center of town," Stroul said. Market hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with parking on Gatzmer Avenue and at the rear of the church.