Warren
Farmers' Market
Source: Steppin' Out in Kinzua Country,
June 2012
For
the past 37 years local gardeners, bakers, horticulturalists, bee
keepers, meat suppliers, and home preservers have been offering their
wares at the Warren Farmers' Market. This year approximately 30
vendors will offer their goods each Saturday from June 16th to October
27th at the Warren Downtown Parking Lot. The parking fee is
suspended on Saturdays making it very economical to shop.
Why would you wish to shop at the
Farmers' Market? Well the food is fresher, you know where it
originated and you are supporting your local producers. Keeping you
money local is a very good way to help all businesses in the area.
With the exception of three vendors, all of the merchandise is sold by
folks from Warren County. In addition to the local folks, items will be
sold by Busti Cider Mill and Farm Market,
Small Meadows Farm, and Frair Haus Greenhaus and Gardens. Tom
Frair who owns the Greenhaus and Garden business is also Warren's
Arborist.
Instead of purchasing strawberries,
squash, greens, fruit, and flowers that have ridden on a semi for two
days, you can purchase items that were just picked on Saturday morning
for your dining pleasure. If you take you take your children to
the market they will learn where fresh vegetables and fruits come from,
as well as the locally grown and packaged meat products. I find
that I shop at at the Farmers' Market and plan my menus for the next few
days around the fresh items that I purchase.
The market is open from 8:00 a.m.
until noon. You can bring a cup of coffee and pick up a roll or
treat and enjoy eating breakfast while talking with friends who also
shop at the market. Not only are you shopping, but you are taking
part in a community activity that is very supportive to those who are
vendors as well as the shoppers.
This year's vendors include:
Sweet and Savory Farm of Bear
Lake has been a Farmers' Market vendor since 2001. They specialize in
green beans and sweet corn, but also have most other garden veggies.
Suzanne & Brad Miller raise and sell pasture fed all-natural beef. In
the fall they often do fresh cider and home-made kraut. They also
have berries, eggs & honey. Click
here for contact information.
Shirley Olson, lovingly known as
"the apple lady," has been a vendor for all 37 of the years that the
market has been operational. She brings homegrown produce and
blueberries, as well as apples.
If you like adding fresh garlic and
shallots to your homemade dishes you should stop and shop at Geoffrey
Howard's stall.
Rae & Jackie's Produce offers
produce, fruit, herbs and flowers.
Linda Spencer, "the pie lady,"
offers small individual pies and larger ones if ordered. Her pies
are delicious and if you purchase a small one the temptation is eaten
and gone before you know it.
Barry's
Barnyard offers free range poultry and eggs.
Tara Casey has "Tara's Tasty Treats," and sells yeast
bread, cookies, baked goodies, produce, and on occasion, eggs.
The First Presbyterian Church sells items that have
been donated by their members. The funds raised are used for the
church's mission program. Every week
the selections change and you can usually get some real bargains from
this vendor.
Tom Frair of Frair Haus Greenhaus & Gardens, Lewis
Run, has an amazing selection of homegrown perennials and annuals to add
color to your flower beds. He also has potted herbs, honey,
garlic, cut flowers, beeswax, homemade lip balm and some fresh produce.
Alan Scott has fresh cut flowers, fresh produce, and
maple syrup.
Rae Peterson has a wide variety of produce, canned
goods and baked items.
Small Meadow Farm has many goat-related items
including goat milk fudge, goat milk cheese, beef, goat, pork, chicken
and duck. He also sells herbs and eggs.
Busti Cider Mill & Farm Market offers vegetables,
preserves, maple syrup, fruit, baked goods, cider, flowers, and home
ground flowers.
Jewel's Home Grown Goodies offers canned goods,
homemade dog treats and fall decorations made from natural items.
4 Hen Farm is owned and operated by the Williams
sisters Linda, Billie Jo, Susan and Wanda. They are in their 4th
year of offering gourmet dog treats and jerky, homegrown produce and
herbs. They also have gluten free treats for dogs with allergy issues.
Their chicken eggs are from free range pasture fed happy hens!
Brookie LaVigne will be selling pumpkins, winter
squash, summer squash, tomatoes, green beans, peppers, gourds, Indian
corn, and elderberries. There might even be baked goods at this
vendor's table.
Dana Watson, Janet Hanen and Niki Krueger have
combined their talents and will be selling baked goods and canned goods.
If you are interested in plants and gardening or have
questions concerning soil, plants, care of plants and gardening, members
of the Penn State Master Gardeners will be available to answer
questions. Sometimes they have plants and other items for sale.
Click here for the program
schedule.
Paula Massa will offer canned goods, jellies, pickles,
sauerkraut, applesauce, eggs, garden veggies, herbs and homemade soaps.
Michele and Mike Miranda are new vendors. They
are offering produce, plants, canned goods, sauces, enchilada dinners
and herbs.
Josie Gerardi has been on the Farmers' Market scene
for many seasons and offers biscotti in a variety of flavors and a wide
selection of home canned items including wine and herb jellies.
She also has homegrown herbs to add zip to your menus.
Buddy and Nicole Jackson will have flowers, herbs,
seasonal veggies, tomatoes, peppers, squash and corn.
If you purchase $5 or more at one vendor you get a
chance toward a $25 gift certificate, which is awarded every two weeks.
The certificate can be spent at any vendor or at a variety of vendors.
On some occasions Jeff Howard and his group provide musical
entertainment for the shoppers. These are perks you don't get at
your local grocery store.
Find a basket or shopping bag and make the trip to the
Downtown Parking Lot on a Saturday morning. Check out all the
vendors and compare prices and quality of the items. Go back and
pick up fresh veggies, homemade bread or desserts, fruits and herbs.
Add a bouquet of fresh glads or flowers and brighten up your home for a
few days. It is a great way to bring freshness and flowers to your
home and menu. Before long you will know the vendors and enjoy the
weekly ritual of shopping and sharing.
The Warren
Farmers' Market is a member of
PASA
(Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture). Visit PASA's
Buy Fresh Buy Local
site for more information about local food sources.
