VENTNOR – A robust crowd greeted vendors and “old coots” at the third annual Ventnor City Farmers Market, which kicked on the summer season Friday, May 24 in the parking lot at St. James Church on Atlantic Avenue. Brilliant sunshine and brisk breezes carried the scents of flowers, herbs and fresh cooked foods across the parking lot.
Gina Rago of Margate and South Philadelphia said the Red Room Café tent is her favorite.
“Their prepared foods and different sauces are fabulous. Everything is fresh and delicious,” she said.
The plump scallops were a popular purchase for many shoppers.
“I got the last of the colossal shrimp,” Rago said. “And there are lots of veggies and someone is selling those big ugly tomatoes that go perfectly with the freshly made mozzarella.”
Rago and her friend Gina Lomonaco said they come to the market every week during the summer.
“I like the market because there are so many different things they offer, including treats for your dog,” she said.
Volunteer Ruth Yaskin was welcoming shoppers and conducting a survey about how they heard about the market.
“We’re keeping track and trying to create community,” she said.
The main sources of advertising this week were from social media, with posters around town and word of mouth coming in close behind, she said.
“One couple said their dog brought them here. They said they were walking down Atlantic Avenue and their dog smelled the treats at the Good Boys Biscuits and Bones tent, where they quickly bought him a treat. They said they have been coming ever since,” Yaskin said.
New this year is a tent were “Old Coots and Friends” give out advice – good or bad, it’s free, market manager Penny Starer said. Activities planned for the season include cooking demonstrations by POX Catering, cooking fun with kids, a pasta-making demonstration, learning about the world of bees and face painting. A salsa-making contest is planned for July 26.
Her husband Andy attended the Board of Commissioners meeting the night before to thank the city for all its support for the event and to give out some bright green and free reusable farmers market shopping bags containing the market logo and the name of its primary sponsor – the newly opened Dunkin’.
“Every department offers some kind of assistance to make this happen,” he said.
The market runs weekly from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Friday mornings until Labor Day weekend.
