It takes a village to run an amazing farmers market, and that includes YOU, our greater community.
A call to action was put out late in the summer to cast a vote for the West Windsor Community Farmers Market as your favorite market in New Jersey, and you showed up! Thank you for supporting and voting!
In mid-September, we were notified by the organizers of the annual Celebration of Farmers Markets (American Farmland Trust and Farmers Market Coalition), that out of over two thousand markets participating nationwide, the WWCFM was voted the number one market in New Jersey and the Northeast, plus the bonus was that the market had ranked as the fourth favorite in the nation!
Having managed the market since 2011, I am always meeting fellow West Windsor (and Plainsboro) residents who have never been or haven’t visited the farmers market since the very beginning years of 2004, 05, etc. when the market was a fraction of the vibrant community space it is now.
It is overwhelming for me, as a community organizer that for the folks who know (and voted) and make a concerted effort to shop locally each week—they (you) really “get” what a gem the market is to our own township, to the surrounding area residents, to our local food economy, to the community groups who we give space to engage with their fellow neighbors, to the musicians who perform, to the farmers who grow, raise and produce the most amazing seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, etc., the artisan food vendors who create up delicious offerings, the residents who sit on our 501c 3 volunteer board who pitch in on Saturdays at the information table as well as advise the overall market operations, and the teenagers who help us with set up and break down in exchange for volunteer hours.
The Market is a collective of everyone working together for the greater good in local food. It isn’t one manager, or one shopper, or one farmer, or one volunteer; we are a community coming together each and every week to lift each other up. What makes the West Windsor Community Farmers Market stand out against other markets? Exactly that—community at its finest.
We encourage you to (re)visit the WWCFM Saturdays through Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then on the first and third Saturdays, December through April from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Rain or shine, local food matters. Community matters.
Chris Cirkus
Cirkus is the market manager of the West Windsor Community Farmers Market.
