At the Reed's Farm truck, from left, Mark Pellegrino, Cookie Till and Deb Pellegrino.
MARGATE - The Community Farmers Market in Margate opened for the season Thursday, June 17 with new vendors and more space to shop. In addition to vendors set up in the parking lot at Steve & Cookies By the Bay restaurant, the city allowed vendors to sell their craft food items in the street on Monroe and Amherst avenues. Police detoured traffic away from the area to keep shoppers safe.
According to restaurateur Cookie Till, due to the expansion of her restaurant to accommodate outdoor dining and a new trailer bar, half of the parking lot was unavailable for the market, and the city agreed to let her use the public right of ways for a few hours each week during the summer season.
The outdoor bar at the Margate Community Farmers Market is open for business during market hours.
Shoppers enjoyed some distance between vendors, and the food offerings were as delightful as ever. New offerings at the market this year include produce from Till's latest endeavor at Reed's Organic Farm and Animal Sanctuary in Egg Harbor Township, which reflects the farm to table theme that is popular today.
Fresh eggs were being sold from a farm in Vineland, and people lined up to get a cup of cold brewed coffee from the coffee truck.
Volunteers from the Community FoodBank of New Jersey Southern Branch were on hand to raise money to purchase meals for those who need them. They were selling lawn signs for $25, which is enough to purchase 75 meals.
The market will be open 8:30 to noon every Thursday morning through Sept. 2.
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