Kiana Hoffiezer of Robson’s Farm tells customers at the Peachy Party about the many varieties of New Jersey peaches. The Wrightstown farm grows five acres of the fruit.
The fruit’s New Jersey bounty draws thousands to farmer’s market
The vehicles pulled in and out of the two 500 Centerton Road parking lots in Moorestown on Aug. 5, as thousands of people were drawn to the annual Peachy Party at the Burlington County Agricultural Center’s farmer’s market.
“This is a great way to meet your local farmers, and it’s a great way for the farmers to meet their customers,” said Barbara Flanagan, who noted the turnout at the farmer’s market drawn by South Jersey’s peach bounty.
“This is our 10th year celebrating peaches, and we have at least 57 vendors,” said Flanagan, the market’s manager, about the party. “We expect thousands of people today.”
The weekly farmer’s market began 17 years ago and is held every Saturday through fall. Shortly after its opening on the day of the Peachy Party, hundreds of people were already milling around, listening to live music, shopping for fresh produce and watching nutritious cooking demonstrations in the farmhouse kitchen.
And of course, there were the peaches. Guests got to sample the fruit’s different varieties along with scores of other peach products, including chutney, salsa, jams, teas, pies, cobblers, scones, cheese spreads and ice cream.
“It’s very important to see our customers,” said Jean Robson of Robson’s Farm, which has five acres that produce peaches and another five of baby peach trees. “We are here (at the market) every week, and it is a very nice setting.”
Robson credited the fresh air and great soil for the state’s peaches. She kept busy serving customers at her stand, along with Kiana Hoffiezer, a resident of Mount Ephraim who enjoys talking to customers as they choose fresh produce.
Robson’s Farm – at 33 Rahilly Road in Wrightstown – allows people to pick their own peaches in July and August every year, and sells a variety of fresh produce at its Purple Farm stand.
Also selling peaches at the festival-like party were Folks Farm and Market, Cranberry Hall Farm, Durr’s Blue Box Produce and Sparrow Lake. There were also other agricultural vendors, food trucks and some 15 arts and crafts vendors.
New Jersey ranks in the top five of states that produce peaches in the U.S., according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, noted county spokesperson David Levinsky. Producers annually harvest approximately 60 million pounds of the fruit, which has a wholesale value of about $35 million on nearly 4,000 acres.
County Commissioner Allison Eckel said the farmer’s market is a popular attraction and the economic engine for farmers and small businesses.
“Agriculture and farming is at the heart of our county’s history, culture and economy,” she explained, “and the agricultural center farmer’s market helps keep the industry viable and strong for present and future generations.”
