Tentatively, the market would be held on Wednesday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m., starting in June and ending the last week September.
Evesham Township officials are exploring the possibility of once again organizing a farmers market in town.
At the latest Evesham Council meeting, township manager Tom Czerniecki asked councilmembers for their blessing to continue developing the idea.
With a market, Czerniecki said residents would have access to fresh and locally produced vegetables, money would stay in the local economy, and growers could market directly to customers without excessive overhead or shipping costs.
The township previously organized a farmers market several years ago at a location on Route 70 by the Shoppes at Elmwood shopping center.
Czerniecki said the township learned a great deal from the experience, and he believed several of those lessons could be incorporated into a new farmers market, given the opportunity.
With that in mind, Czerniecki said the township was looking at placing the new farmers market in a portion of the lower parking lot of the Fire Administration building on Cooper Avenue.
“We recognized that from our first experience that walkability has to be in the realm of possibilities there,” Czerniecki said.
The new location would give the market the space it would need to operate and would also secure a location near Main Street and the township’s walkable downtown area.
“We met with the fire chief, and he is fully supportive of it as long as we maintain one far lane for vehicles to move in and out,” Czerniecki said.
Czerniecki said Evesham Township planner Leah Furey also has experience in helping organize a farmers market, as she did so when she previously worked for Medford Lakes.
According to Czerniecki, the new Evesham farmers market would feature about 10 vendors, along with live music, demonstrations and the possibility for community groups to meet as well.
With those vendors, Czerniecki said they would sign a hold harmless agreement with the township and pay a fee for their space at the market, with funds then used to support the market.
Czerniecki said a committee of volunteers would be established to run the market, along with members of the township’s Green Team doing much of the work.
Czerniecki said only minimal support from the township would be required, with members from the Department of Public works collecting trash and potentially placing and removing small barriers.
According to Czerniecki, this new farmers market would be held on Wednesday evenings from 4 to 8 p.m., potentially starting in June and ending the last week September.
With ending in the last week of September, Councilmember Ken D’Andrea also noted the market could lead into the township’s annual Harvest Festival held at that time each year.
If the township were to move forward in establishing the farmers market, Czerniecki said the township would also get points toward achieving its next designation from Sustainable Jersey.
Sustainable Jersey is the nonprofit, statewide organization that works to help communities implement environmentally friendly and sustainable initiatives, with the potential for grants and other support.
Czerniecki said an official resolution regarding the farmers market would be prepared for council’s next meeting.
