Hello, Vendors, Artists, and Friends of the Collingswood Farmers’ Market! Goodbye, strawberries; hello peas, squash, cherries, cabbages, beans, cucumbers and lettuces? (Next week, blueberries?)

Weather Forecast

Looks like a beauty. Weather will be humid overnight Friday, but very little chance of rain Saturday, with temperatures climbing through the mid 70s to the upper 80s. SUMMER is HERE! Gets windy as the day progresses. Bring your tent weights.  

Site Plan for SAT JUN 13

Guest Vendors

Three Guests, Green Aisle Grocery, Market Day Canele, and Constellation Collective will take spots inside the Market. SOOM Tahini and John & Kira’s Chocolates will set up shop in the customary Guest Vendor area. We’ll also be visited by a Peace Corps Recruiter and representatives from AQUA Corps. BERRIES COMING The Jersey Fresh organic raspberries and blackberries from Brookeberry Farm are not ripe yet. Neither are the blueberries from Green-Ford Farm. Green Ford expects blueberries for SAT JUN 20.

Guest Artist

Michelle Bross (Michelle Mosaics) is our Featured Artist for SAT JUN 13. She makes wall hangings, mirrors, garden art, mailboxes, and house numbers. We’ve set her up beneath the Speedline because she doesn’t have a tent. Look for her in Guest Vendor Space G. Check out her facebook page.

Lourdes Wellness / Oaklyn Pantry

This is the week for the monthly Buy 2 / Give 1 campaign that has fed so many of our food-vulnerable neighbors. Encourage your customers to pick up an extra bit of produce for the effort. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rare and extremely desirable items at a food pantry.

Live Music

Dave Kelly plays the West Stage, in the shelter of the Speedline, and Trio Nova Duo will command the new official Market Music Tent, sponsored by Collingswood Music.

Small Bills

Many of you know, but for those of you who don’t, I carry small bills for vendors who run out of singles during the Market day.

Dog Tent

The Almost Home Shelter will staff the new Dog Tent for us this week, continuing to register dogs that haven’t yet bought their official Market Leash Permits.

Vendors Please Enforce: “No Permit, No Purchase”

This won’t be easy, but it’s necessary. If good dog behavior is important to you, you’ll comply in June with the No Permit, No Purchase policy, declining to serve customers who don’t choose to cooperate with the Permitting and Behavior Guidelines. David Hodges will distribute a small batch of Dog Behavior Guidelines to all vendors for distribution to anyone who appears at your table attempting to make purchases with a non-permitted dog.

BID Vendors

Perennial favorites, DiBartolo Bakery, Villa Barone Restaurant, Cheese Etc., and Sara’s Produce will all attend. No others have reserved BID spaces. Mike DiBartolo of DiBartolo Bakery is your contact for all questions regarding BID participation at the Market. (609) 949-3424 cell for voice or text.

VENDOR PARKING PERMITS

It’s good business to save the best parking spaces for SHOPPERS! Most visitors will tell you it’s tough to find parking at the Market. We make things worse by parking our own vehicles in spaces that could be used and re-used many times by shoppers. Please encourage your table crew to park for free in the Lumberyard Parking Garage (just across Collings Avenue from the west entrance). There are plenty of spaces inside, and the walk back to the Market takes 3 minutes.

Flexible Site Plan

Changes will continue to occur throughout the season as vendors come and go and as we learn more about how neighbors interact. I remind you no spaces are ever guaranteed and require your cooperation if I have to move your location any given week. Thank you. David Hodges Market Director Home Office (856) 854-8385 Cell Phone for Market Saturdays (856) 979-6653 collsmkt@davidhodges.com