By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
JAMESBURG — Organic and homegrown, residents will have their pick of the crops when Jamesburg Revitalization Coalition’s Farmers Market comes to town in July.
Starting July 12, residents will be able to stroll down to West Railroad Avenue and find an assortment of fresh, seasonal New Jersey fruits and vegetables and possibly even some organic poultry, fish and bee products every Saturday until mid-October.
So far, about a dozen vendors in the area have expressed interest in registering for the market, said Elliott Stroul, an organizer and Jamesburg Revitalization Coalition president.
For interested vendors the price will start at $60, and ranges from $30 for a daily fee to $400 for seasonal pre-pays.
Although they don’t expect to see a huge profit in the first season, Mr. Stroul said eventually the coalition would like to put any profit made from the market toward upcoming projects like creating a boroughwide business pamphlet, Mr. Stroul.
”We’re looking at paying for the cost of putting this on,” Mr. Stroul said. “Signage and advertisement is what the fees will cover initially.”
Considering the nearest farmer’s market is about 10 miles away in West Windsor, Mr. Stroul said he feels there will be a lot of enthusiasm for the market from residents as well as neighboring towns.
”We’re going to draw people from Monroe Township,” he said. “A farmers market is going to bring people into the downtown area and it’s going to bring in retail traffic.”
As for the locals, Mr. Stroul said he suspects borough residents would prefer to pick up their weekly produce from the market rather than a crisper from the nearest grocery store a couple of miles away.
”There’s a lot of farms around us,” he said. “It’s convenient, organic and they don’t have to fight the crowds.”
The market setup is expected to stretch for a block between Church and Harrison streets and be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be parking available at the nearby Presbyterian Church of Jamesburg if street parking fills up too quickly. For more information can contact Diane Lemelman at 732-723-1863 or [email protected].
