Tri County Cooperative Auction Market
Opening day is Wednesday, July 2nd

Pegi Ballister-Howells

Locally grown food is in demand. Distribution has always been the challenge. The Tri County Cooperative Auction Market is moving to meet that challenge.

The Tri County Cooperative Auction Market has been around since 1931. Located just outside the historic town of Hightstown, it is just about dead center in the State, and five minutes from Exit 8 on the New Jersey Turnpike. Tucked behind businesses that face Route 33, even many long time residents are not aware that the 10 acre facility exists.

The Coop has approximately 75 grower members and up to 275 buyers. Most of these are from the central New Jersey area, but some come from north Jersey, New York and further south.

The Coop is unique in that auctions are held in the evening at 7pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Opening day is always somewhere around the 4th of July, and this year it will be Wednesday, July 2. With the 4th on a Friday, and a weekend full of picnics and barbecues to follow, the auction will go on the night of the 4th in anticipation of farm markets needing fresh produce to meet a busy weekend of sales.

The Coop will add something new this year: Direct sales

In addition, the Coop is implementing something new. Beginning July 7, farmer members will be given the opportunity to sell directly to customers from their trucks. Direct sales will begin at 5pm the nights of the auction and end promptly at 6:30 when numbers are drawn for the auction to begin. All sales will still go through the Coop, but this will create an opportunity for farm markets, restaurants, specialty shops and even homeowners to come and make purchases without having to wait for the auction.

This new concept will allow sellers to negotiate with buyers directly, set up orders in advance, and create new relationships without having to make an additional trip to the auction. Being so centrally located, Tri County is ideal for restaurants to purchase truly locally grown product without having to go to NY or Philly and without having to pay food service companies exorbitant premiums.

Call the Coop at 609-448-0193 for more information.