West Orange Couple Revive Failing Farmers Market – West Orange, NJ Patch

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A West Orange couple wanted their son to grow up in a town with a farmers market. So when their local market shut down shortly after they moved to their new home – instead of complaining – they took matters into their own hands.

Now, after organizing their friends and neighbors and gaining the support of skeptical town officials, Stacey and Rob Reese have managed to revive a once-failing farmers market.

On Wednesday, West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi gave a big thank-you to the Reeses during the annual State of the Town address. Naming the couple as “Citizens of the Year,” Parisi applauded the Reese’s efforts and said they helped to bring the community together in an extraordinarily meaningful way.

The mayor offered the following background about their work:

“For years, decades actually, the township created various versions of a farmers market, in multiple locations, different hours, different days; each starting with promise, only to close a short time later unable to overcome the challenges. We set a standard for ways not to run a farmers market.

“Naturally, I was a bit skeptical when Stacey Reese came to see me and asked for the township’s support and help in organizing a farmers market that she and her husband Rob wanted to create. Though our history made me skeptical, there was no doubting Stacey’s resolve or the very nonchalant way she promised success.

“Stacey and Rob met in 2005 while both participating in the Boy Scouts program called Venture Crew. A program designed to encourage teamwork, among boys and girls, in the planning and organizing of activities and events. Foreshadowing for sure. They moved to West Orange in 2013 and immediately set out to become part of their new community involving themselves in many local initiatives and organizations.

“But they wanted their son, Finn, to grow up in a town with a farmers market and were still troubled by the closing of the township’s last market shortly after they moved here. Rather than complaining about it they set out to do it themselves, organizing a team of volunteers to build something that would bring people together as neighbors and as community.

“The farmers market they created surpassed all expectations. For 28 straight Saturdays, the West Orange Farmers Market was the most popular place to be each Saturday and before long was attracting visitors from all over Essex County. They created countless attractions for children, raised money for the Boys and Girls Club, for veterans, supported our troops overseas and created a dog-friendly market while highlighting the need for animal adoption.

“Oh, and they provided food items too! (along with flowers and crafts and some of the best bread I have ever had…in a lifetime of eating bread!) Stacey and Rob organized a variety of options for visitors, coming from all over the region and welcomed as many as 60 different vendors on some Saturdays.

“They have set the new, and very high standard, and we all look forward to seeing what they have planned next. We are thankful for their contributions and for their special creation. Today we celebrate them…and the success of the farmers market they created.”

Parisi isn’t the only West Orange official to take notice of the couple’s hard work. West Orange Councilwoman Cindy Matute-Brown also commended the Reeses in an August 2019 social media post.

“Many thanks to Stacey and Rob Reese for the tremendous undertaking in organizing the farmer’s market every Saturday,” Matute-Brown wrote. “Your efforts are integral to bringing our neighbors old and new together in community.”

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