WEST CAPE MAY — Luscious legumes and the community’s agricultural heritage will take center stage when the borough of West Cape May hosts its annual Lima Bean Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, in Backyard Park.
The public is invited to shop vendors selling food, handmade arts and crafts and apparel. The festival will have live music performed by Nolan Quinn, and magician The Great Loudini will perform starting at noon.
“We will have a lima bean photo-op station, live music, magic show, lima bean soup, lima bean chili — meat and vegan options — lima bean humus, key lima cookies, lima bean salad and more,” said Theresa Enteado, municipal clerk and festival co-organizer. “There will be lima bean crafts of all kinds, including pottery, soaps and jewelry.”
Not only are the food selections delicious, they are healthy, too.
Lima beans are packed with protein — about 15 grams per cup — to build strong muscles. Their fiber stabilizes blood sugar and digestion, while potassium, iron and folate keep the heart and blood cells healthy, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (USDA guidelines also caution that lima beans must always be thoroughly cooked, as raw or undercooked beans contain natural toxins).
Founded in 1985, the festival celebrates a time when West Cape May was a lima bean machine. Probably the best known example of West Cape May’s lima bean prowess is Rea’s Farm, which in the 1950s had more than 1,000 acres of lima beans under cultivation, taking advantage of the area’s sandy loam soil, according to the farm’s website. They are a major reason for the borough being dubbed the Lima Bean Capital of the World.
When changing market conditions prompted big food companies to pull out of town, Rea’s changed course.
Rather than selling to developers, Rea’s, a family farm established in 1922, prioritized conservation. As documented on the farm’s website, they enrolled in the New Jersey Farmland Preservation Program in 1999, leasing birding rights to The New Jersey Audubon Society to safeguard the acreage while diversifying their operations.
What’s there today is a historic, fifth-generation family farm, market, agritourism and U-pick destination. The Stevens Street farm has become a community event venue, too.
Rea’s will be at the festival selling lima beans, as will the Potato Homestead Farm from Woodbine, which will also be offering lima bean sour dough bread.
Don’t be late, as there are favorites that sell out.
“The lima bean chili sells out and so does the Knights of Columbus’ famous lima bean soup,” Enteado said.
Attendees are encouraged to use the free parking along the borough’s side streets and ride the free jitney service being provided by the borough, Enteado said.
Jitney service will be available from noon to 4 p.m. There will be pick-up and drop-off locations at the festival venue — 732 Broadway, behind the firehouse — Wilbraham Park and on Park Boulevard. Jitney drivers will pick up any pedestrians they see walking to the event along Broadway and Park Boulevard.
The festival supports the West Cape May Shade Tree Commission.
Contact event organizers Theresa Enteado or Erin Seer at (609) 884-1005, ext. 101 or 100, or email [email protected] for details.
By JAMES FITZPATRICK/For the Star and Wave
