June Start Date Set for Lakehurst Farmers Market

After months of planning, a farmers market in is set to kick off in late June. 

Starting on June 24, the market will run each Sunday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the lake parking lot through Sept. 3, said Janie Baranyay, a resident who helped to bring the plan to fruition. 

"We have vendors that are coming and we have everything in place," Baranyay told the borough council last week. 

Plans for a weekly market in the borough were first discussed in February. At an informal mayor's meeting in March, those talks began to develop further and Mayor Harry Robbins asked residents to pitch in help attract vendors to the 22-acre lake. 

The in Lakehurst, three area farmers and an Italian food vendor have committed to sell vegetables, produce and other goods at the inaugural sale. 

"We already have a nice group to start with," Baranyay said. "According to the state, if you start with three [vendors], that's big."

Talks to bring in other potential participants, including a woodworker, are underway, Baranyay said. Vendors will accept WIC and Department of Senior Services food coupons.

It was important to organizers that vendors invited to the market, which will be held at the corner of Lake and Church Streets, have the chance to be successful. 

"We want to make sure that the farmers who come have an opportunity to sell their produce, so we don't want to overwhelm the market with farmers," Baranyay said.

Councilman Steven Oglesby said in March that it will likely "take a few weeks" of operation before the success of the market can be gauged, but that more businesses may be inclined to participate if it proves to be profitable.

Oglesby suggested that Lakehurst make a push to advertise the market. To that end, a flyer has been posted on the borough website.

"We're very excited about it," Baranyay said. "It's going to be a nice day."