From left, Ventnor City Farmers Market Managers Andy and Penni Starer, Maria Gatta and John Dowd.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – It’s very likely that the “Ventnor vibe” created by Penni and Andy Starer, who shun the spotlight, will survive their retirement as market managers at the Ventnor City Farmers Market.
The snowbird couple who started the market seven years ago are serving their last season as market managers, but the hip, friendly, “super-special” vibe they created and nurtured will surely continue thanks to their management team, shoppers, sponsors and vendors, who have become like family, they said Friday morning.
“We are moving to Florida,” Penni Starer said. “We’re not getting any younger and after seven summers of putting forth the time and energy required, we feel it makes sense.”
Andy Starer said it is time to “pass the torch.”
Next season, the third original Market Manager, Maria Gatta, who with her family runs The Red Room Café on Dorset Avenue, will be joined by John Dowd, who said he is looking forward to continuing what the Starers and Gatta started.
“They have accomplished so much, and I want to see the community environment they created, along with their fabulous team of volunteers and support from St. James Church, continue,” he said.
All four market managers said the welcoming vibe created at the market is largely due to the family of vendors who offer the finest locally grown produce, seafood and flowers, hand-crafted food items and other handmade crafts. They take pride in their offerings and in serving their customers, who come in droves from around the corner, across the bridge, and even from across the ocean every Friday morning from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Dowd said he loves helping out at the market.
“Everyone smiles here. It’s a happy place,” he said.
There’s just three weeks left for the market this summer, which is held in the parking lot at St. James Church on Newport and Atlantic avenues. The last market will be held on Sept. 1.
“I can’t believe summer’s almost over,” Penni Starer said. “August really brings out the shoppers. Today is one of the busiest days we’ve had, and every week is already pretty busy.”
Penni Starer said the collective effort of nearly 50 volunteers, who come to work and have fun, every department in city government, Holy Trinity Parish, the sponsors and thousands of weekly shoppers have made it one of the premier farmers markets along the Jersey shore.
One of the offerings that has really taken off and given the market a special feel is the Old Coots Giving Advice tent where a team of volunteers counsel those who ask for advice. Although it may not be the best advice, it’s free, their banner states.
Pat O’Brien is serving her second summer as a coot, and she is happy she met the Starers, whom she said are “very accommodating.”
O’Brien said she retired last May and moved to Ventnor on a permanent basis and before she knew it, she was on the old coot schedule.
“I’m both sad and happy to see the end of summer coming,” she said. “Sad I won’t be able to have fun dispensing advice, but also happy to welcome the fall in Ventnor.”
The Starers said they have already sold their Ventnor digs and purchased a home in Boynton Beach, Florida.
“We bought a house,” she said. “We love everything about the outdoors and like to do outdoor activities, so now we can enjoy that year-round.”
Andy Starer said with the help of Gatta, the management team was able to successfully navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The year of COVID was one of our busiest seasons. Everyone wanted to be outdoors, and the vendors were anxious to bring their products to market,” he said. “There were a lot of rules that year, and we survived. But our seventh year has by far been the greatest.”
Gatta said Penni and Andy will surely be missed.
“They are a tough act to follow, but we got this,” she said. “That’s because of our support system and our vendors who have become family to us. And most of all, we are able to do all this thanks to our team of volunteers who make it happen. We can’t do it without them.”
Copyright Mediawize, LLC 2023
