Farmers Market Vendors Weather Drought

The heat wave and drought conditions in New Jersey came at the worst time for New Jersey's many small family run farms, just as the crops were blooming and ready to pollinate.

While many of those farms are not equipped for, or cannot afford ongoing irrigation that is necessary to create a sufficient crop to insure a profitable year, many of the farmers at the Summit Farmers Market are successfully weathering the drought; North Slope Farms, Vacchiano Farms, Cherry Grove Farm, and Race Farms all employ drip irrigation to provide consistent moisture for their crops to insure profitable yields. 

Mark Rassweiler of North Slope Farms said that New Jersey vegetable crops need, on average, the equivalent of an inch of rain a day to thrive.  During drought conditions, this requires almost constant drip irrigation.  This increase in water usage is expensive, he said, but there is a proportionate increase in yield which makes it profitable.

Rassweiler added that the moisture they provide their crops during drought conditions is critical to the survival of the insects that polinate crops, the animals that prey on the insects, and the entire food chain.

For Tassot Apiaries, moisture is also important to grow plants for their bees to pollinate, said proprietor Jean-Claude Tassot.

Matt Conver of Cherry Grove Organic Farms  said that drought conditions are far more difficult on organic farms as all animals and insects increasingly rely on plants, fruits and vegetables for food and water.  Organic farms have far fewer options to combat crop loss to animals and disease that can arise during drought conditions.

The Summit Farmers Market is open every Sunday from 8 a.m to 1 p.m. in Shopper Lot 2 on DeForest Avenue.