Plenty of fanfare and flair will mark the reopening of Burlington County’s popular Farmers’ Market come Saturday, May 17, kicking off an eighth season of locally grown Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods and other prepared foods and a variety of live entertainment, cooking demonstrations and unique crafts.
Located at the Burlington County Community Ag Center on Centerton Road in Moorestown and sponsored by the Burlington County Board of Freeholders, the market opens at 8:30 a.m. and will run an extra hour on opening day until 2 p.m., giving visitors plenty of time to shop and stroll.
But it will also be a day of ceremony, with Seneca High School’s ROTC contingent formally presenting the colors at 9 a.m., the 4-H Cloggers taking center stage at 10 a.m. and April Mae and the June Bugs providing musical entertainment shortly thereafter.
Freeholder director Bruce Garganio said the county will officially dedicate a new onsite catering-size kitchen at 11 a.m., an addition to the Ag Center which will facilitate future special events. Right after the dedication, celebrity chef Cyndi Stanimirov, a successful contestant on TV’s Hell’s Kitchen and now sous chef at the recently opened Firebirds Grill in the Moorestown Mall, will lead off the weekly cooking demonstrations.
“There’s no question that this will be our best season ever,” Garganio said. “Our list of vendors continues to grow, and will rotate from Saturday to Saturday. Local, Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh meats, eggs, perennial, annual and cut flowers, herbs and alpaca products, live music, farming and gardening demonstrations and hand-made crafts and art are all on the agenda. Plus cooking demonstrations will be held in the new kitchen every Saturday at 10 a.m. This is truly a unique and colorful family event that caters not just to those ‘in the market’ for fresh produce, but also those who are looking for advice on everything from cooking to gardening.”
More than four dozen vendors will be participating in this year’s market, including many “old favorites,” as well as several new additions.
The current list of “ag vendors” includes 1895 Organic Farm of Lumberton, Bart’s Flowers of Delran, Busy Bee Farm of Tabernacle, Cranberry Hall Farm of Cookstown, Darmo’s Farm of Moorestown, Davidson Exotic Mushrooms of Kennett Square, PA, Durr Wholesale Florist of Chesterfield and Griggstown Quail Farm & Market of Princeton.
Add to that list Hunter’s Vegetable Farm of Cinnaminson, Little Hooves Romneys of Moorestown, Longview Flowers of Lumberton, Our Shared Ground of Moorestown, Robson’s Farm of Allentown, Simons Berry Farm of Tabernacle, Smiling Dog Farm of Lumberton, Spinella Farm of Hammonton, Stormwind Alpacas of Columbus and Windy Farm Alpacas of Chesterfield.
As in the past, expect to see an assortment of seasonal produce such as blueberries, sweet corn, heirloom tomatoes, asparagus and organic vegetables.
The list of vendors in the prepared food category has expanded to include Catering by Phillip, Happy Wanderer Bakery, Harvest Coffee Roasters, JiMa and Mecha Artisan Chocolate. Joining the list of crafters will be Evalilee Jewelry and Kathryn Morrison.
A complete list of all vendors and upcoming programs and activities at the market can be found at burlcoagcenter.com.
On the second and fourth Saturdays, the master gardeners will be on hand to answer gardening questions, and on the second Saturday of each month the county will be accepting food donations to support local food pantries.
The market will be open every Saturday rain or shine (except during declared weather emergencies) through October. For more information call (856) 642–3850.
