One thing that summer brings to our shore community, other than beach days and boardwalk strolls, is weekly farmers markets. With so many of our towns jumping in, it creates variety and gives both locals and visitors the chance to hit up multiple markets each week.
One farmers market that has been steadily increasing in popularity since it first started five seasons ago, in 2022, is the Somers Point Farmers Market. While it’s now a staple for the town and surrounding areas, getting it off the ground wasn’t so easy.
Local resident Rob Hopkins once described Somers Point as “a market that is lacking a market.”
After recognizing the city’s need for something like this, he set out to make it happen. Originally, Hopkins hoped to open a large farm stand centrally located in the city that would operate in the spring and fall. His idea was that, come summer, other vendors would join him weekly and naturally turn it into a full farmers market.
The city ultimately turned the idea down, but locals were far too excited to let it fade. Shore Medical Center and the Patriots for Somers Mansion both stepped in, offering to host the market on their private properties.
Hopkins initially ran the makeshift market at Shore Medical Center for a few weeks, but it quickly became clear that with the early popularity and momentum, they would outgrow the space. That’s when he turned to the Patriots for Somers Mansion, where the market found a more permanent home.
The first official summer season with weekly vendors kicked off in 2022, starting around the second week of June and running through Labor Day. That first year featured about 10 to 12 vendors each week, but from the start, it was clear this was something special that would continue to grow.
That’s when Hopkins turned to Twisted Lemonade Beverage Company vendors Sami and Will Boyer. Seeing the rapid growth, he knew he needed help to keep up the momentum.
“After I was a vendor at that first market, I knew it would be a great one,” Boyer said. “You could just tell from the vibe, how the people loved it and were excited. I knew it would really turn into something. Rob asked my husband to help for the 2023 season, and I jumped in with them in 2024.”
Boyer shared that having the three of them working together allows them to bounce ideas off one another, each bringing their own perspective while keeping the market fresh and exciting year after year.
From that first season of 10 to 12 vendors, the growth is undeniable as the market heads into its fifth year with 100 total vendors lined up.
That growth is also reflected in the city’s attachment to it. Boyer said residents constantly ask for a longer season and more market days. Due to that demand, the team has expanded the schedule, opening the week before Memorial Day and extending through the week after Labor Day, while also introducing a fall market and a special Christmas market.
This year, the team kicked things off early with a Spring Warmup Market held on Saturday, April 18.
Despite iffy weather, Somers Point showed up in a big way, getting a taste of what’s to come this season. There were 69 vendors and a steady flow of visitors coming and going all day long.
“We want to curate a certain vibe,” Boyer explained. “We make sure there are healthy options and handcrafted items, and we don’t allow multiple vendors selling the same thing. We really want to showcase true local small businesses while keeping a lot of variety.”
This year, the market will feature 72 vendor spaces throughout the season. Of those, 43 are full-season vendors who will be there every week. Another 20 are half-season vendors, with an additional 20 to 25 pop-up vendors rotating in throughout the summer.
“We have a lot of vendors, a lot of variety, lots of returning favorites and some new ones. We’re always trying to bring in exciting, fun additions,” Boyer said.
They’re also hoping to bring back “Art in the Garden,” where local artists set up every other week to showcase their work.
Another big addition is Kids Days, inspired by the overwhelming response during Fall Fest, when kids decorated pumpkins. After seeing that success, they brought Kids Days back for Christmas and the Spring Warmup, and now it’s officially part of the summer lineup. The events will take place on the third Saturday of each month: May 16, June 20, July 18, and August 15.
Each Kids Day will include free face painting, fairy hair, games, story times, and a themed craft for kids to enjoy.
“I just love Somers Point,” Boyer said. “I just want to see people enjoying it. I’m just super happy that people love us and that they love having us there.”
Delaney Crawford is a dynamic entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling and digital marketing. Driven by a desire to empower local businesses, Delaney founded DLC Media, a company dedicated to helping businesses enhance their brand image and thrive online.
