The Montclair Farmer’s Market will be back in the Walnut train station on June 6, but if you think it’s there automatically, as summer follows spring, think again. The market was run by the Montclair Economic Development Council, which ceased to exist after the council cut its funding to zero this winter. Despite its history and momentum, the market could have died.
But town arborist Steve Schuckman decided to save the 16-year-old Saturday gathering place, putting together a volunteer committee to run the market outside of town or MEDC auspices. He’d been running it under MEDC’s umbrella for years anyway. But now all the funds will have to come from fees charged to the farmers.
“I do this out of pure love and joy of the market,” says Schuckman. “I grew up in the midwest where you picked up a bag of sweet corn and put $5 in a coffee can. It’s a social scene. It’s where you meet your neighbors and your friends.”
“It’s a lot of work,” he added. “I have to visit the farmers. But it’s a great service to the town.”
Although the story has a happy ending, Shuckman thinks the de-funding of MEDC, which leveraged volunteer labor, was a bad move by the council. “They’ve sent the message they don’t believe in the spirit of volunteers anymore,” he said.
Jim Matarazzo, pictured with his farm stand’s mascot Charles Barkley in 2006, is grateful. “Steve Schuckman deserves the credit, a pat on the back and a dinner,” he said.
Maybe someone can cook Schuckman up a tribute of fresh veggies on June 6. Or some buffalo steak. Readington River Buffalo Company is the newest vendor this year.
The market will run from 8 am to 2 pm Saturdays at Walnut Street.
The caption for the pix:
“Fund us, or the dog gets it!!”
I would be so bummed if we lost the farmers market! That place is my go-to for fresh produce during the summer months. I love to go early before everything has been picked over.
Thanks, Mr. Schuckman!
Joke aside,
I agree with Mr/s. Split— THANKS Schuckman!!
Bad pic. Looks like they’re offering fresh dog (jersey fresh? locally farmed? organic?). Next time, make the photo important enough to compose before shooting, instead of just an afterthought.
Thanks Mr. Schuckman! I’ve been waiting for the market to open. I’m tired of all the overly large tasteless fruits and vegetables from the supermarket.
The Farnmer’s Market has become a nice summer staple..Glad it will still be here this summer.
At first glance, I thought the guy was holding a cow and that he was a local butcher.
Jim, the farmer’s market hasn’t even started yet this year, so they could not go out and “compose” a photo.
I love the farmer’s market and would be so disappointed if it went away! Thank you Steve! If you need help/volunteers, definitely put out the word, I would be interested if it meant that the market could continue.
I’ll have to approach Mr. Schuckman and thank him when I see him. Thanks for facilitating that with a photo.
But this is a seriously ad hoc solution and it occurs to me that maybe good citizens ought to work together to figure something out for future years. I doubt the funding will be coming back and Mr. Schuckman’s generosity may have limits, not to mention, it is the right thing to do.
Good job Mr. Schuckman. The Montclair Farmer’s Market is a great thing.
Paterson Farmers Market — a block or two down from Corrado’s — is open 365 days a year; it’s not as chi-chi as Walnut Street, but you can get halal meat, wonderful Mexican and South American spices and peppers, and loads of fresh produce. I was just re-reading “Giving Good Weight,” John McPhee’s book about the Greenmarket in NYC, which started in the early ’70s and — lo and behold — was modeled after the Paterson Farmers Market.
http://www.patersonfarmersmarket.com/
But thanks, Steve, this kind of civic service is much needed and appreciated. Even if one risks getting crushed by a herd of Volvos.
A better caption: “Buy a dozen tomatoes, get a free dog!”
Is that a dog… or a goat?
Thank you Steve! I love the market and it would be a shame if we lost it. I was just wondering though, how could Steve do it without the Town or an organization like the MEDC being involved at all? Isn’t there insurance issues? Does htis mean they can now sell things that are not only “New Jersey” produced?
“Bad pic. Looks like they’re offering fresh dog”
Charles Barkley (from picture)is a goat. Hes very friendly and my daughters love him.
Not to jump in on the love fest, but thank you Steve for keeping this open. Every town in the area has a farmers market and Montclair needs ours. The Jersey White Peaches are some of the best fruit that can be purchased anywhere at anytime.
Not to be overlooked is the upcoming farmers market place in little falls that will commence on Friday, 6/5/09 – the market is sponsored by the Little Falls Alliance for a Better Committee
For more information: http://www.abc-littlefalls.org/events.htm
I’d like to volunteer- and probably others would as well! I tried to get in touch with people last year, and it figures no one ever got back to me after phone and email.
How do we contact Steve and the crew to volunteer at the farmers market this summer? Please advise!
Steve is no longer in charge of the Farmer’s Market. He was last year as President of the MEDC.
I suggest calling and e-mailing Joe Hartnett. Back it up with a call to Linda Wanat the Montclair Municipal Clerk and your Town Council Person.
Oh, what the hell, cc Jerry fried as well.
Fees charges to the farmers? Great, so the produce there will be even more expensive than it was. As it is, the Montclair farmers market furthers the unfortunate status of local farm-fresh (not even organic) produce as a luxury item in this area.
What about bringing in some advertising? Sponsors?
Charging the merchants of a market fees to provide for the organization and upkeep of the market? Yikes how crazy is that?
The Montclair Farmers’ Market has charged vendors a fee since inception in 1993. Fees cover advertising, market manager salary, special events, signage, Port-O-John, etc – all spent just running the market. There is no profit, and we break even. Most of the work is done by volunteers, which you can’t pay for. The fee is so minimal that it does not increase product cost. Product cost is basic economics.
Stephen Schuckman
Township Arborist
Montclair Farmers’ Market Chair
Well it sounds like the township saved money AND we still have a farmers market due to the praiseworthy efforts of Mr. Schuckman and his volunteers AND the fee is minimal!
Sounds like a win-win-win situation to me. I love the Farmer’s, thank you Mr. Schuckman for your efforts!
Also thanks for being the Township Arborist which I hope is a volunteer position too.
Thanks for your positive comments everyone. I too love the market and promise to my community I will with my volunteer committee keep it going.Sorry, ROC, I am not a volunteer forester, a paid consultant taking Montclair to the next level of good shade tree management.
Stephen Schuckman
The New Jersey Farmers are thankful for your support and we look forward to serving the Montclair community with New Jersey fresh vegetables, fish, meat, poultry, cheese, honey, baked goods, and plants. I tip my hat to Steve Schuckman for all his efforts in supporting New Jersey Farmers and keeping New Jersey Green. We are greatful to hire a young staff of local kids who are looking to learn skills, work, and save money during the summer months. They are especially thankful to you and your community.
Best to Montclair and its residents.
James R. Matarazzo Jr, Farmer, Realtor, SAG-Screen Actors Guild
So, if the low fees charged to the vendors covered the costs associated with the market, what kind of funding went from the town to the MEDC for this service and what did the MEDC do with the money?