Margate Community Farmers Market kicks-off summer season

MARGATE Brilliant, warm sunshine greeted shoppers during the season opener of the Margate Community Farmers Market Thursday, June 14.

It didn't rain, yay, said Cookie Till of Steve & Cookies By the Bay, which has been hosting the farmers market in the parking lot of the restaurant at Amherst and Monroe avenues for the last 11 years. It's a good sign. It's going to be a good summer.

Several new vendors joined the returning purveyors of the freshest local produce and food stuffs, including exotic mushrooms, fresh scallops, Peace Pies, treats for Fido and much more.

The annual Jersey Peach Pie contest, which is a highlight of the summer market, will be held July 19, and Rutgers University Cooperative Extension will be Rediscovering the Tomato during a tomato tasting event Aug. 16.

Every week offers a new activity and featured organization. Thursday's featured organizations were Gilda's Club and Court Appointed Special Advocates.

The lineup is as follows:

• June 21 will be National Alzheimer's Awareness Day


• June 28 local artist Jon Baker will showcase his veggie art and Margate Mothers Association will be accepting donations for the 4thof July fireworks display


• July 5 will be AtlantiCare face painting and Julie's Biscotti


• July 12 Children Making Change will join the Humane Society of Ocean City


• July 19 is Jersey Peach Pie Day


• July 26 JFS will be onsite offering tickets and information about its annual House Tour


• Aug. 2 Gilda's Club and CASA return


• Aug. 9 Jon Baker's back with his veggie art and so is the Humane Society of Ocean City


• Aug. 16 is the tomato tasting offered by Rutgers


• Aug. 23 AtlantiCare returns with more face painting, and on


• Aug. 30 the theme is I found my thrill&

For more information see Margate Community Farmers Market on Facebook.

Check out a video here.

Check out a photo gallery here.