The committee’s hope is that word will spread to Cinnaminson and Riverton.
Palmyra Borough Councilwoman Mindie Weiner said she’s always had an affinity for farmer’s markets, and her trips to the markets in Collingswood and Haddonfield made her wonder why there wasn’t one in Palmyra. So at a meeting of Palmyra’s Business Community & Development Committee, she brought up the idea, and planning for the market began in January.
Months later, the first-ever Downtown Palmyra Farmer’s Market will open on Thursday, June 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Band Shell located on Broad Street and Cinnaminson Avenue. The market will run Thursday evenings in June through August with a rotating selection of vendors, food trucks and entertainment.
The market will feature locally-sourced produce, coffee, meats, pastries and flowers.
Weiner said the goal is to give each vendor a chance to shine, so the committee will not have two or more businesses that sell the same or similar products on the same week. For instance, she said two of the flower shops in town will alternate weeks.
As soon as talk of a farmer’s market hit the streets, Weiner said the committee received numerous concerns about the market putting local produce supplier, Fresh Produce, out of business. She said they were certain to ensure this wasn’t the case and invited the local business to sell its wares at the market. She said the business has happily agreed.
Weiner said since releasing the first flyer for the market last week, interest has been strong with the flyer being shared and liked on Facebook at a previously unseen rate for the borough’s page.
“I think that our committee is really excited to bring this to our residents,” Weiner said. “We love Palmyra. We’re just trying to kick us up a little bit and put some cool, fun things out there to make our town even better.”
Palmyra Mayor Michelle Arnold said, over the past two years, the borough has been very progressive in its activities, which she sees as an end to a period of stagnation. She said she sees the market, in particular, as an opportunity to highlight Palmyra’s local businesses.
“We’re being responsive to the needs and desire of the community,” Arnold said. “It’s something that people have asked for, and we’re going to give it to them.”
In planning for the market, Weiner said she and fellow council member Lewis Yetter met with organizers from the Westmont Farmers Market. She said the knowledge they acquired from Westmont’s market was instrumental in getting Palmyra’s off the ground. She said they learned everything from rules and regulations to establishing contact with vendors.
“We are not Collingswood, and we are not Haddonfield — but I think we’ve gleaned some tips and tricks from them and some guidance as to how to pull this off,” Arnold said.
Weiner said the committee’s hope is that word will spread to other river towns, so Palmyra’s neighbors in Riverton and Cinnaminson will attend the market as well.
If all goes well this first season, the market has the potential to become annual for Palmyra, Weiner said.
“I feel confident that the market is going to be successful,” Weiner said. “I guess we’ll just have to see how this season goes.”
For updates on the market, visit http://boroughofpalmyra.com.
