By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
WEST AMWELL — Sergeantsville’s loss would be West Amwell’s gain.
That was the consensus from officials last week when they heard a proposal to bring an already active and successful farmers market to the township, rather than having to start one in the township from scratch.
A representative of the Sergeantsville Farmers Market, Phil Jacoby, last week discussed the possibility of bringing the market that has operated for years in Sergeantsville to West Amwell in the spring.
Members of the committee enthusiastically embraced the idea, although several details still need to be worked out.
”It’s important we have a local market for farmers to sell the products of their farms,” Deputy Mayor Ron Shapella said. “We need to restore the connection between farms and the community.”
Although a move into the township by the Sergeantsville Farmers Market would be a welcome way for residents to find fresh produce and homemade products, residents also could be assured the goods are from local vendors, not shipped in from out of the county, said Chester Urbanski, chairman of the township’s Agricultural Advisory Committee.
Mr. Urbanski and Mr. Shapella agreed it would be ideal to locate the market on the lawn in front of the township building on Rocktown-Lambertville Road. There is ample space for vendors, plenty of nearby parking and a source of electricity for the market’s minimal needs, such as for credit card machines.
Not least among the site’s attributes is the built-in traffic: Between 350 to 400 cars each Saturday arrive at the township’s lot to drop off their trash.
Mickie Jacoby, who runs the market and sells pottery and culinary herbs there, could not attend the committee meeting Oct. 1, but she later said she is in favor of the move.
But, she added, it is still in the discussion stage. First, the township needs to present a formal invitation to set up in the township.
Mr. Urbanski agreed, saying the township now must issue a formal proposal.
Also, Ms. Jacoby said the move must be approved by a majority of the approximately two dozen members of the farmers market.
”We have quite a few members who think it’s a good idea, but not all,” she said. “Everybody wants to make sure it’s the right thing to do before we do it.”
She remained positive a move would occur in one form or another.
”I really think there will be a market there, whether all of us or some of us attend,” she said. “You know, people don’t like to make changes.”
Mr. Shapella and Mr. Urbanski met previously with Ms. Jacoby to get a feel for the operation.
”She certainly proved to me this is something they’re doing because it’s the right thing to do, not because it benefits them,” Mr. Shapella said. “It’s very altruistic.”
Also, Mr. Shapella added, “They are a self-contained and self-perpetuating organization. They’re really well organized.”
In addition to local produce, the market sells locally canned and baked goods and crafts. The market limits the number of crafts vendors to one-quarter of the total.
In 2007, the Hunterdon County Department of Health, following state health guidelines, declared some vendors could not sell their homemade food unless they had been prepared in a certified kitchen that was regularly inspected.
West Amwell has a certified kitchen in its firehouse, according to Mr. Urbanski. However, it remains uncertain if vendors will be able to use it.
If they can, Mr. Urbanski estimated they would need only one day a week to prepare their wares.
