Asbury Park Youth Build Job Skills Through Asbury Fresh Market
When Arabia Foster was given the opportunity to spend her summer working at the Asbury Fresh market, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Foster, 20, is one of four Asbury Park student workers selected to help out during the local farmers and makers market every Sunday. All of the students were picked through the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County.
“I like helping people. (When I learned) we’d be helping vendors and people trying to start their own business, I couldn’t say no,” Foster said. “As a musician, I understand what it’s like to put something out there that’s part of yourself.”

The new student program is designed to give students real world experience at a young age.
The idea for the program stemmed from Brian Sienkiewicz, the Asbury Fresh product manager. Prior to taking on the role, he ran a work readiness program for at risk youth and kids with special needs.
“I wanted to somehow incorporate what I used to do into what I’m doing now,” Sienkiewicz said. “(When I started at the market), I made friends with all these vendors who are farmers, artists, chefs. I thought, ‘Wow this is the perfect one stop place for kids to learn about all these different types of professions.’ They can see what’s out there in the world.”
Since starting at the markets, Foster noted she’s become more acquainted with aspects of business she never would have known before.
“I learned a lot about inventory and merchandise and the cost of making certain products and why you have to sell it at a certain price to make an income,” Foster said. “You learn a lot about how to run a business. It’s actually a lot more difficult than I thought.”
The money Foster is earning through the program is helping her jumpstart her career. She’s saving up to attend college, where she hopes to study sound engineering and music.
For Foster, who can sing, rap, play guitar, piano, drums, clarinet, and trumpet, there’s no better feeling than expressing herself.
“I’m not very good at speaking, but when it comes to rapping or writing down my feelings, it’s like second nature.”
Kerry Simmons aka “Barz” is a 19-year-old Asbury Park student who’s also involved in the program.
Like Foster, Barz is interested in a future in music. He’s hoping the money can help him save for college, where he hopes to one day attend Clemson University. He also has dreams of owning a studio, where he can produce R&B and hip hop.

Barz’s favorite part of the markets is meeting friendly new faces.
He added that getting a job as a young individual can be extremely difficult.
“It’s either you’re too young or all the spots are already taken,” Barz said. “(This) was a surprise. (When Sienkiewicz visited Boys and Girls of Monmouth County), I walked in and was like, ‘Who is this guy?’ He turns around and is like, ‘My name’s Brian and I have job applications for y’all.’ I was like, ‘Okay, Okay. I need a job.’ That’s how this came to be.”

The program is sponsored through Charles Rosen, the founder of Jersey Cider Works, where he and his team use fresh pressed apples to make hard cider.
When he heard about the initiative to bring a student run work program to Asbury Fresh, he immediately jumped onboard.
He feels it’s important to get community members of all different ages and backgrounds to the markets.
“It’s critically important for these students and all of us to be more exposed to art, and to understand where our food comes from, and to understand what community, and what diversity looks like,” Rosen said.

The program helps students take the initial steps toward finding their passion.
“I think it’s great for not only kids to find out what kinds of things they like, but it’s also a great way to find out what they don’t like so they can avoid going down a path to something they eventually won’t like,” Sienkiewicz said. “The earlier they can explore and find out what’s out there, the more prepared they’re going to be after they graduate high school.”

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