Warren County residents have been fortunate enough to
have a Farmers' Market for 35 years. Annually, folks who grow
vegetables, fruit, flowers, and more meet each Saturday during the
summer and fall months and offer their wares to those who wish to
purchase organic foods, fresh baked goodies, seasonal maple syrup, or
plants.
This year the leaders of the Warren Farmers' Market
have decided to start a little earlier, allowing those vendors who have
ware to sell the opportunity to do so before the traditional beginning
of the market in July.
Folks might ask why anyone would like to shop at a
Farmers' Market. The reasons are many. First you purchase
vegetables and fruits from the folks who grew them. You can also
purchase organically grown meats and eggs or freshly baked bread, rolls,
cakes, pies or cookies. You can purchase perennials that can be
used to enhance your property and fresh cut flowers to brighten the
interior of your home. Several vendors offer home canned relishes,
jellies, salsas, mustards and more. If you don't like to can but
enjoy freshly made items, this is a great place to shop.
Beginning June 18th the Early Bird Farmers' Market
will be held at the Mid-Town Parking Lot in Warren. Proudly
sponsoring us for advertising and signage is Tony Siliano from Real
Living Avista Properties in Warren.
Included in the vendors will be the
Presbyterian Church. Members of the church donate produce and
baked goods for sale. The selection is different each week.
Every cent they have earned from this booth, totaling $56,000 over the
years, is donated to a World Hunger Program. They also sell
coffee, Equal Exchange Coffee, that is promoted by the World Hunger
Program, aiding countries where coffee is grown. You can purchase
beans or ground or a cup of freshly brewed coffee to enjoy with a
cinnamon roll or muffin that you might purchase from another booth.
Friar's Haus, owned by Tom Friar,
from the Bradford area, is the Warren City arborist and has his own
nursery. He sells perennials, herbs, garlic, cut flowers and
honey.
Busti Cider Mill and Farm Market
will participate in the early bird weeks. They sell fresh produce,
cut flowers, fresh ground organic flours including whole wheat, rye,
buckwheat and cornmeal. They also offer a whole-wheat cereal.
Children love the fruit leather that has been rolled into logs.
Small Meadows Farms offers
organic meats. They sell goat, beef and pork. They have an
assortment of cheeses, goat milk fudge, eggs, and stewing chickens.
Tara Casey of Warren works her
magic in the kitchen and bakes wonderful treats, including cinnamon
rolls, sold individually. Shoppers have been known to purchase a
cinnamon roll, a cup of coffee and walk around while visiting and eating
breakfast.
The official opening of the Warren Farmers' Market
will be July 9th, when the early bird vendors will be joined by many
more including Josie Gerardi with biscotti, canned
goods, including jams, jellies, and salsa as well as dried and fresh
herbs. If you are lucky she will have had time to make little
banana breads. Josie noted, "I won't sell anything that I wouldn't
consume myself." Most of her goodies are made from recipes from
family and friends.
Borden's Honey from Sheffield will
have a variety of sizes of containers filled with locally produced
honey.
Geoff Howard, Warren, offers
garlic and shallot.
Ray and Jackie, Warren, sell
produce.
Shirley Olson, the apple lady
from Russell, also sells fresh produce including great onions, beautiful
delicious tomatoes and more.
Rae Peterson, Clarendon, offers
home baked items, fresh produce and a wide variety of canned relishes.
Pies of all sizes and flavors are made fresh and sold
by Linda Spencer, Russell.
The Williams sisters offer pet
treats and herbs.
Some other vendors are talking about joining the
weekly tradition. One is planning to sell cupcakes and others
haven't listed their wares.
To add to the festive mood of the market several folks
get together for a jam session and play lively music.
If you are looking for help with your lawn, flowers,
or vegetable garden you can always solicit advice from the Penn State
Master Gardeners. They usually are available twice a month.
Each time they have a display they highlight one topic to help educate
local gardeners.
If you plan to visit the Farmers' Market, it begins at
8:00 a.m. and runs until noon. First you arm yourself with a
canvas shopping bag or basket and a loosely written shopping list.
Next imagine yourself shopping in an outdoor market in
Europe. Allow yourself to "go with the flow." If you see a
food item that you weren't planning on buying that looks delicious, or
tempts your taste buds - make the purchase and change your menu.
The Warren are is very fortunate to have this luxury
during the summer and fall months. Take advantage of this unique
shopping experience and you might find it becomes a Saturday habit.
According to Bill Dyke, one of the market's old=timers, "It gets in your
blood and you can't miss a week."
The Warren
Farmers' Market is a member of
GRO-Warren and
PASA
(Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture). Visit PASA's
Buy Fresh Buy Local
site for more local food sources.
Tips
for Canning & Freezing
