The Township of Bloomfield announced the opening of the Bloomfield Community Farmer's Market to increase access to fresh, local produce for Bloomfield residents and surrounding communities.
The weekly market will reopen on Tuesday, June 7 and run every Tuesday from 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM at the Bloomfield Public Library Courtyard through Tuesday, October 25.
“The Bloomfield Community Farmer's Market provides an opportunity to highlight the agricultural diversity of New Jersey and the importance of creating more markets for local food.
We are excited to showcase different vendors from our area and have another open-air space for residents to come together and build community,” said Mayor Michael Venezia.
"This farmer's market is good for us all around - it supports the local economy, it provides access to an assortment of locally sourced products, and it increases access to healthy, affordable fresh food. I look forward to running into residents at the Bloomfield Public Library Courtyard on Tuesdays."
City Green, an urban farming and gardening organization based in Clifton, NJ, will be bringing their VeggieMobile, a refrigerated box truck and mobile market that allows the organization to bring locally sourced produce to communities across New Jersey.
They accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express as well as SNAP, WIC FMNP, Senior FMNP, WIC CVV and Good Food Bucks.
The township is excited to welcome several other vendors that will participate on a weekly basis, offering a variety of produce, food products and specialty items for purchase.
Each week will also feature a Local Spotlight Vendor that will make available information, products, or services to residents.
For a list of participating vendors, please visit Bloomfield Community Farmer's Market | Bloomfield Township, NJ (bloomfieldtwpnj.com).
To help residents who are experiencing food insecurities, the Neighbor to Neighbor Network (NTNN) is once again partnering with the town and generously providing $2000 in funding for “market cash.”
Eligible residents will receive $5 market cash (in single dollar vouchers) to use at qualified food vendors. Residents can receive vouchers each week until funding from the NTNN has been exhausted.
Human Services and the NTNN will manage the market cash program by collecting the market cash at the end of the market from vendors and giving them a check.
A SNAP card, WIC card, Medicaid card, unemployment stub, or proof of disability (defined by a SSI/SSD award letter or temporary disability letter).
Residents residing in Felicity Towers, Heritage, Kinder Towers, or Section 8 recipients or in low-income/moderate-income housing will be eligible.
Residents staying in a shelter, rooming house, or boarding home will be eligible if their last permanent address was Bloomfield. Residents who cannot show this proof because they do not meet the above criteria can be approved at the market by a Human Services social worker, who will be present to determine if residents are eligible for vouchers and provide benefits screenings for those who request them.
Some form of proof of income must be shown. All residents utilizing the voucher program must show evidence that they are Bloomfield residents (a piece of mail with their address is sufficient).
“This is an excellent chance for our town to celebrate local, fresh food and wares produced by local vendors,” said Councilwoman Jenny Mundell.
“We are also going to have information tables for several of our township departments and representatives from the Bloomfield Health & Human Services Department on hand answering any questions and assisting residents in need with available services like Market Cash.
I encourage Bloomfield residents to stop by and learn more about what our township is doing while they shop.
A special thanks to our Farmer’s Market Committee members and Bloomfield residents Nicolle Walker and John Evangelista for their support in bringing the market back this year, as well as the Neighbor to Neighbor Network for their continued generosity and funding of the market cash program.”
In an effort to create a fun and welcoming event, the Township has hired Bloomfield resident DJ Johnnie to play a wide variety of musical genres while residents shop.
The Bloomfield Public Library is located at 90 Broad Street in Bloomfield, NJ. For updates on participating vendors, follow the Bloomfield Community Farmer’s Market on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomfieldfarmersmarket/