VENTNOR - It's the unofficial start of summer, but it was the real deal at the Ventnor City Farmers Market Friday morning. More than 1,000 shoppers turned out to purchase Jersey Fresh cold crops, baked goods, handcrafted food and craft items and clothing.
It wasn't much of a beach day, so many brought their children and pets for a stroll around the parking lot at St. James Church on Newport and Atlantic avenues. The market attracted shoppers from near and far.
"I'm happy it's summer and that we are getting back to normal," said Loren Murphy of Margate. "And I got fresh picked strawberries, so I'm a happy girl."
Julie Cohen of Scottsdale, Arizona was in town to visit family for the weekend. She was pleased to see a variety of fresh produce, something that's not readily available in her area, where it is very hot in summer.
"We have farmers markets in the winter when the temperatures are around 70 degrees," she said.
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Phil Peters came from even farther away than the West Coast. He is visiting Atlantic City this summer to be with his mother-in-law, Patricia Stuart, a farmers market volunteer.
He lives in Pretoria, South Africa and runs an educational program for marginalized children.
"We flew into Virginia on Thursday, and then drove in," he said, still sweating from a morning run on the boardwalk.
Asked if he would participate in the Kenny Wayland Memorial Run Sunday morning, Peters said he would not be able to participate because he will be going to Philadelphia to promote the Kilometers for Kids run being held to support the charity, Open Schools Worldwide, which provides literacy and life skills training to 4,000 children who cannot afford to go to school.
"A $60 donation will fund three full years of education for a child," he said.
Meanwhile, over at the "Old Coots" tent, a volunteer was offering advice to a 16-year-old boy who wanted to know if he should consider playing baseball on a traveling team and being bored the rest of the week, or working full-time at a camp which would nix the idea of playing baseball, which he loves.
"You will most likely only have the opportunity to play baseball for another year or so. Maybe you should do both," the Old Coot said. "Play baseball because you love it, and work part-time to earn a little money and make some friends."
Although the advice was free, he wanted to make a financial contributions because he got good advice, he said.
Market Manager Penny Starer said the turnout for the first market of the seaon went "beyond imagination."
"In terms of foot traffic, this is more than we expected," she said. "The shoppers came out and showed their love and our vendors are very happy."
The Ventnor City Farmers Market is held 8:30 a.m. to noon every Friday until Labor Day weekend.
Learn more about the vendors and special offerings on the Ventnor City Farmers Market Facebook page.
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Mayor Beth Holtzman and Commissioners Lance Landgraf and Tim Kriebel will open the beach bathing season 10 a.m. Saturday morning on the beach at Suffolk Avenue.
Other events in Ventnor this Memorial Day weekend include the first concert of the summer season Saturday evening at the beachfront park on Newport Avenue and the Kenny Wayland Memorial Run Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
