If Approved, Princeton Farmers' Market Could Return To Hinds Plaza

PRINCETON, NJ — Over the past few years, the ever-popular Princeton Farmers' Market has been moving from one location to another around town.

Originally, the home of the farmer’s market was Hinds Plaza, but due to ongoing construction work, they had to move to the Franklin Avenue lot and the Dinky parking lot.

On Monday Council held a work session on the Princeton Farmers' Market and pending Council approval, the market could return to Hinds Plaza this June.

“We are very excited to hopefully bring the market back to the center of town and back to the plaza and feel that the community vendors and customers will share in that excitement as well,” said Jess Morrison, vice president with JM Group, which runs the market.

Parking, however, could be a big issue and hindrance. The market would have four large farm trucks and three smaller trucks to unload the produce. These trucks would need street parking, market manager Natalie Fiorino told Council. She also requested 20 parking spots at the nearest garage for the vendors.

In the past, the larger box trucks would park on the library side of Witherspoon Street when there was no bump out there.

Deputy Administrator and Municipal Engineer Deanna Stockton told Council that Municipal staff was working on preparing an agreement for this year’s market, something that wasn’t done in the past.

“This year we will be bringing an agreement to the council,” Stockton said. “We have been talking about some different locations for different vehicles, understanding that certain farms trucks need to be close to the plaza.”

The agreement will be brought to Council during the May 8 meeting and will include parking details.

There are six parking spaces on the Hinds Plaza side of Witherspoon Street, that could accommodate four of the farm trucks, Stockton told Council. The opposite side of the street – Griggs Corner – could accommodate three more trucks.

Larger vehicles that didn’t fit in the garage can be parked at Paul Robeson.

“With more activities and demands on the Plaza we wanted to make sure that we had this community discussion, reviewed the concerns about parking and it would be incorporated in the agreement,” Stockton said.

The Mayor and Councilmembers expressed their support for the farmers market returning to Hinds Plaza but said parking issues need to be discussed in detail.

Councilmembers suggested splitting parking between Palmer Square and Westminster Choir College, which is a few blocks away.

The market first began in 2009. This year, they will begin their summer market in June and end in November. The Princeton Farmers' Market is expecting 22 vendors for the 2023 season.

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