By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – Ventnorites and visitors enjoyed shopping amid the raindrops Friday morning at the opening of the 10th anniversary season of one of the most popular Farmers Markets at the Jersey Shore. The rainy weather has put a damper on some of Ventnor’s holiday weekend activities – the first concert of the season was cancelled – but the market is always held rain or shine.
The Ventnor City Farmers Market has thrived since Andy and Penny Starer got the big idea to start one in Ventnor. Located in the parking lot at St. James Church on the corner of Atlantic and Newport avenues, the market boasts lots of Jersey Fresh produce, handcrafted food stuffs, and creative crafts, all offered with a smile.
Ask anyone and they will tell you it’s the people and the atmosphere that keep shoppers coming back weekly. The market will be held 8:30 a.m. to noon every Friday until Labor Day weekend.
At 8:20 a.m. Friday morning, a small group of officials and volunteers gathered at the entrance of the market to celebrate opening day of year 10. Market Manager Maria Gatta of one of the island’s finest Italian restaurants – The Red Room – who has been a market manager since day-one, used the big scissors to cut the ribbon on what promises to be its greatest season.
Co-Market Manager Karen Warner and Setup Volunteer Kathy Styles-Landgraf were scurrying about making sure all the vendors were in the right location and had everything they needed for a successful day. Although they didn’t come in droves, the crowd was steady through the morning and sales as brisk as could be expected for a rainy day.
Jordan McGurgan of Linwood was looking forward to vending for the third year in a row. Her “Colorful Creators” tent sells custom designed paint-by-numbers kits in two sizes. They come complete with locally focused shore design canvasses, little pots of the perfect paint colors and brushes – everything anyone needs to paint a Picasso.
“They sell quick, especially on days like today or whenever rain is in the forecast,” she said.
McGurgan is a former art teacher who taught at Atlantic City High School. It was in 2022 that she got the idea to bring back the old-fashioned paint-by-numbers kits with locally-themed artwork.
“From there, it took off,” she said. “I started selling at popups and the shore towns love the local designs, including Lucy the Elephant and the Smiley-faced water tower.”
The slower pace of the market gave everyone a chance to ease into summer instead of the “whomp” of a warm, sunny day that cries, “Where can I park?”
Several Jersey Fresh vendors had a full array of early summer greens and hot house tomatoes for sale. The artisan breads were on display just waiting for some mayo to slather on those rather large beefsteaks being sold one tent over. The freshly harvested scallops were on ice and Gatta was rolling out logs of gnocchi, while Michael Hauke of Tony Baloney’s pizza was selling a selection of handmade pizzas, including one topped with corn.
Around the bend, the Old Coots were dispensing advice like they have for the last 10 years.
“The best advice I gave today was don’t bet on sports,” volunteer Mitchell Kurtz said. “Everyone does it, but no one wins.”
Other advice dispensed for free included career advice, newlywed advice and gambling advice, he said.
Jeanie Antolini of Ventnor – a not so old coot – was encouraging people to come into the tent, come out of the rain and sit a spell.
“We’re like the Post Office – we show up rain, sleet or snow,” she said. “It may not be the best advice, but it’s free.”
Enjoy this gallery of photos…
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