By: Cara Latham
MANSFIELD The county is looking to attract farmers and artisans for a planned farmers market this summer, and is holding its second informational meeting at the Rutgers EcoComplex in March.
The meeting, which will take place at 7 p.m. on March 6, is for those interested in selling agricultural and handmade goods and will include details about the farmers market site the former Winner Farm in Moorestown as well as information regarding eligibility, market rules and application procedures.
The first meeting was scheduled for today, Thursday, at 2 p.m. at the Department of Resource Conservation in the County Engineering Building in Mount Laurel.
Dan Kennedy, the Farmland Preservation Program coordinator in Burlington County, said that notices of the meeting went out to known vendors and farmers in the county, and that the county hopes to attract those who are interested in direct marketing their agricultural product.
"We’re looking for fresh fruits and vegetables, other fruits and produce," he said. "We’re also looking for people who may process agricultural products, like jams, jellies and salsas," and other products that are created from local agricultural products. They are also seeking vendors who make homemade goods like bread, and artisans who craft things like wreaths and baskets.
The farmers market, located at Hartford and Centerton roads, is planned for Saturdays beginning June 16 and running through the end of October, he said. It will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with an opening event and other special events planned by the County’s Division of Cultural Affairs and Tourism.
According to a county press release, future plans for the 60-acre site include community gardens and a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, where participating members would be able to purchase advance shares of produce grown on the property and receive weekly harvests. The county’s farmland preservation office is looking to get a CSA farmer on board this fall to start planning for the 2008 growing season, the release said.
Mr. Kennedy said that supporting local farmers is a "win-win" situation for both the customers and the farmers.
"Direct marketing of agricultural products is a way that farmers can increase their profits by cutting out the middle man," which is the process between growing and selling, which could include processing the products and shipping it out to customers, he said.
This, on the other hand, gives the farmers a chance to sell their products directly to the consumers and "capture more of the profits," and in turn, customers, or local residents, will have the opportunity to purchase fresh fruit locally, he said.

