Hightstown Farmers’ Market Back for Another Summer

The Hightstown Farmers’ Market is gearing up for the start of its third full season Friday, and one of its organizers, Tom Muza, said he’s hoping for record numbers this summer.

“Last year we averaged about 350 per week that walked through the market every Friday, and we hope to boost that up to 450 to 500,” he said.

Muza has been volunteering for the market for three years and is in charge of recruiting vendors. who appear weekly on Fridays in . The other organizers are market founder Chris Moraitis and new volunteers Pete Klapsogeorge Jr. and Jeff Delpanno.

“I think it’s a nice, solid group that will be here this year,” Muza said of this year’s merchants.

Among the big additions for 2011 is Lawrence-based Olsson’s Fine Foods. Speaking right before Olsson’s had agreed to join the market, Muza said adding them to the roster would help add an “an incredible rounding off of what we can offer the community.”

But the weekly farmers’ market is more than just a place to get food, Muza said, and that’s been intentional from the start.

“The big thing is providing a place where the community can gather,” he said. “We have such a great park down there and I think wave of farmers markets was taking hold in this area.

“I felt that Hightstown needed something for the community to have fresh produce and to have a place to go so that they could not just buy produce but could have a place to sit down, meet up with friends and hopefully take part in activities around town.”

To that end, market organizers are seeking out art groups to show their work during the weekly event.

“We’re trying to get people together to show their wares and maybe do some demonstrations,” Muza said. “We’re trying to get it a little more community-based and not just a market where you come in, pick up produce, a couple cakes, buy some cheese or bread and leave. We’re hoping people will stay.

As in 2010, live bands with are roots will keep visitors entertained each week. This week’s band will be Hamilton-based Hot Taters.

One new addition will be paddleboats, rented out by the half out for a nominal fee. Renters will get to ride around Peddie Lake while support the borough Parks and Recreation Commission, which Muza said he was happy to see take a more proactive role. Market organizers are also working with people training for the swimming portion of the annual triathlon, Muza said.

Earlier in the year it looked as if local complaints might move or even close the market, but Mayor Steve Kirson with borough merchants that seemingly satisfied everybody without changing the weekly event. Patrons will now be able to use the restroom at , and vendors will be able to park their vehicles there to free up space in the Memorial lot for local shoppers.

The Hightstown Farmers’ Market will run from 4 to 8 p.m. every Friday from June through September in .

This year’s vendors will be:

• Olsson’s Fine Foods, of Lawrence
• Mendies Farm, a local farmer from nearby Roosevelt
• Stace of Cakes, a Trenton-based provider of cupcakes and sweets
• Tumbleweed & Eddie’s, Natural Pet Treat Co.
• Sally’s Dawg Den, a food cart that sells chicken sausages, pierogis and hot dogs
• Reed’s Eggs, Herbs and Flowers
• Zoe’s Handcrafted Soaps
• , the borough’s Italian café and market
• Gaute Pan, a Latin-American bakery in the borough
• The Happy Wanderer Bakery, a Hamilton bakery specializing in cakes, cookies and bread desserts