With spring in full swing and summer right around the corner, the Board of Chosen Freeholders is encouraging residents to shop local this summer for Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables.
Freeholder Deputy Director Balvir Singh announced today that the weekly Farmers Market is back for a new season, with the Opening Day and the annual Garden Expo on Saturday, May 11 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
“The Weekly Farmers Markets are back, and the Freeholder Board is encouraging all residents to stop by and support our local businesses and agricultural community,” said Freeholder Deputy Director Singh, liaison to the County Department of Resource Conservation. “This year, the Garden Expo falls on the same day, offering a packed schedule of exciting events.”
The Farmers Market features locally grown Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables, annual and perennial plants, cut flowers, baked goods, prepared foods, cheeses, fresh eggs, local honey, farm fresh meats and poultry, live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, and unique crafts from local artisans.
The Garden Expo will kick off with a Master Gardener Plant Sale. Educational gardening workshops will be going on throughout the day starting at 9:30 a.m. Kids activities will include a "make a planter for Mom" class, face painting, and make your own hummingbird feeders and bird houses. Everyone is also invited to make your own flower crown with fresh cut flowers and greenery.
For decades, the Freeholder Board has had a proud tradition of land preservation - protecting over 61,000 acres of farmland and open space - and consistently supporting a local agricultural community that produces plants, flowers, fresh tomatoes, corn, and blueberries, just to name a handful.
In 2005, the Freeholder Board established the Burlington County Agricultural Center as an educational facility focused on food production, health and nutrition, and land stewardship. The Agricultural Center offers special events and educational and culinary programs held throughout the year, which visitors can learn more about at the Farmers Market.
The Farmers Market will be open every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m. through October rain or shine with free admission and parking. For more information and a full schedule of Garden Expo events, please visit www.burlcoagcenter.com or call (856) 642-3850.
The Burlington County Agricultural Center is located at 500 Centerton Road, Moorestown, NJ 08057.