Merchantville's "Market OFF Centre" is seeking vendors from the region for 2015 that provide locally grown, handmade, or homemade products. We're recruiting all over but, the best recruitment comes from someone you know. Please reach out and encourage participation. 2015 Market Rules & Application

Join us this evening, Monday, February 16th at 7:30pm for our first planning meeting of the 2015 Merchantville Farmers Market season! With your input and help, this is sure to be our most successful year yet! Join us at Merchantville's newest arts and eats hub, The Station Coffee (located in the former Merchantville train station building - on Centre Street directly across from the gazebo). Hooray for all things LOCAL!

Some discussion topics will include: Location, parking and space, frequency, day of the week, schedule and times, partnership with Maple Shade, rebranding to "Market on Centre", vendors, farmer focus - organic or Jersey Fresh, rates, entertainment, promotion, safety and staffing.

Merchantville's Farmers Market returns today, Saturday, August 16th from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. This week features: sustainable agriculture and heirloom vegetables from  Taylors Riverside Homestead Farm ; Paradise Farm/Katt's Green Grocer produce, McFarlan's Market featuring drinks, breads, coffee, tea; the ancient art of homemade pasta is as easy to learn as it is to enjoy from Jolynn Deloach In My Grandmother's Kitchen  My Crafty lil Coven featuring Wire wrapped gemstones, rings, necklaces, dried flowers; dog treats from Groovey Bones; canned "Jersey Fresh" tomatoes from Avallone Tomatoes; Michelle Tomlinson with Alden Cafe's delicious potato salad;  Lori's Little Lovelies; Joe Gentile Hot Dogs; Duckies Candles;  American Karate System; sweet treats from Yours Exclusively Desserts; vintage jewelry by Lisa Marks Designs; soaps from Soaps and Decor; Mary's Mobile Diner  offering breakfast and lunch fare; Edna & Friends wood crafts; and, Hart's Dod Cart with hotdogs and organic food options. The music starts at 9:00 a.m. with Dennis Palma followed by Stephanie Middleton at 11AM!

The Farmers Market is located along a beautiful, tree-lined greenway in the heart of our downtown at Centre Street and chestnut Avenue. The season runs thru October 19th and will take place from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM on the FIRST, THIRD & FIFTH Saturday of each month. The Market operates rain or shine.

MERCHANTVILLE FARMERS MARKET MINUTES

Introductory Planning Meeting March 2, 2015 - 7:30pm to 8:30pm

1. Reviewed previous meeting discussion points and decisions.

2. Roles:

Chair/Market Coordinator – Ryan Middleton - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Social Media Guru – Carrie Rupnow-Kidd - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Communications/Email Holder - Joan Brennan - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Music Coordinator - Nicole Island - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Local Business Liaison – Katherine Swann - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Events & Borough Public Liaison - Andrew McLoone - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Special Activity Coordination Committee –Kerry Mentzer (Lead) - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Nicole Eiland - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Katherine Swann - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Mona Wilson - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Document Review Committee – Lisa Marks - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Kerry Mentzer - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Applicant Review Committee – Pearson Barlow - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Judith Ward - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

3. All to assist with vendor recruitment update group on outreach efforts. Look at Crafter’s Guides and Coop Kitchens.

4. All feel free to put Market info out but please update group of any Market related website or event calendar posts.

5. New lead on Market Special Activities – Kerry Mentzer volunteered as lead with assistance from Nicole, Katherine, and Mona

6. Market Philosophy approved: To provide an active and entertaining family oriented atmosphere offering a variety of local, handmade, and homemade goods and services with a focus on sustainably farmed and organic options.

7. Branding – selected new logo8. Promotion ideas – discuss in more detail at next meeting to hit April deadlines –preliminary ideas are Social Media, Natural South Jersey Awakenings, City Paper, Observer,All Around Penn, Weekend in Inquirer, hit schools before summer, Camden Catholic playbill.

9. Agreed to give free market week for vendor referrals resulting in partial or full registration10. Vendor suggestions – farm contacts – honey, eggs, meats, berries, cooking oils, etc.

11. Brewery may not be allowed. Andy is researching.

12. Discuss banners and flyers at next meeting.

13. Vendor locations – decided to designate spots for pre-paid vendors and others on a weeklybasis. Ryan will create map and send ahead for vendor locations.

14. Andy will request funds through Taskforce

15. Katherine will coordinate local businesses to attend two or three markets for free. Twobusinesses allowed per week a max of three markets before paying. Can sell if they like.Will have a designated local business spot at the market.

16. Nicole will coordinate music and pay will remain $40 per 2 hour block.

17. Will use volunteers each week, one for morning and one for afternoon, with a lead coordinator onsite – usually Ryan but others as needed. Do more outreach for volunteers.

18. Updates on To Do List:

a. Ryan will send final rules and application with added request for merchandisephotos.

b. Ryan will draft Nonprofit Vendor Rules & Application for Review

c. Ryan will have suggested changes made to logo and also have more simple versioncreated for Facebook. Also start creating some ad size promotions with the logo andmarket details for review at next meeting.

d. Everyone reach out to at least two vendors each. Update group on efforts.

e. Andy will prepare Borough application (with location, crossing guard, dates, etc.)and make request of $500 from Taskforce. Also research rules for brewery vendor.

19. Next Meeting: March 30, 7:30pm at The Station?

It's almost February, and do you know what that means? Time to start planning our 2015 Merchantville Farmers Market! We'd LOVE to have you join us in planning this year's market! First meeting is MONDAY, Feb. 16th at 7:30pm at Merchantville's newest (and not yet open!) arts and eats hub, The Station Coffee (located in the former Merchantville train station building - on Centre Street directly across from the gazebo). Please spread the word, mark your calendar, and JOIN US in helping make your 2015 market a success!

Merchantville's Farmers Market returns for this weekend on Saturday, July 19th from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM. This week features: sustainable agriculture and heirloom vegetables from  Taylors Riverside Homestead Farm ; Paradise Farm/Katt's Green Grocer produce, McFarlan's Market featuring drinks, breads, coffee, tea; the ancient art of homemade pasta is as easy to learn as it is to enjoy from Jolynn Deloach In My Grandmother's Kitchen Zeigfield's fresh cut flowers; Ginko Girls are back with yarn clothes and crafts; Michelle Tomlinson with Alden Cafe's delicious potato salad;  Lori's Little Lovelies; Joe Gentile Hot Dogs; Duckies Candles;  American Karate System; vintage jewelry by Lisa Marks Designs; soap, salves and scrubs from Soaps and Decor; painted brick Paver Pals by Bob Mueller; Edna & Friends wood crafts; Sakri Health & Beauty Aids. The music starts at 9:00 a.m. with Stephanie Middleton followed by Tom Jenkins at 11AM!

The Farmers Market is located along a beautiful, tree-lined greenway in the heart of our downtown at Centre Street and chestnut Avenue. The season runs thru October 19th and will take place from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM on the FIRST, THIRD & FIFTH Saturday of each month. The Market operates rain or shine.