United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has proclaimed August 1-7, 2010 as National Farmers Market Week. This week is set aside to recognize farmers markets as being excellent sources of affordable and healthful fresh fruits and vegetables to our nation’s communities. This year marks the 11th annual National Farmers Market Week. Since the USDA began declaring National Farmers Market Week in 2000, the number of farmers markets has nearly doubled (from 2,863 markets in 2000 to 5,274 in 2009).
Here in Phoenixville, we are fortunate in that farmers’ markets abound in our area, including one right in our midst. Phoenixville’s hometown Farmers’ Market is a producer/grower market that is, “committed to providing locally grown, fresh food and to preserving agricultural heritage while strengthening the community.” Phoenixville’s Farmers’ Market began in 2002, and currently has over 40 providers selling a wide variety of products, including coffee, bison meat, honey, artisan cheeses, pies, cupcakes, soaps, syrup, fruits, vegetables, wine and more.
Here’s a complete list of all the farmer and grower markets in Chester County (courtesy of the Chester County Buy Fresh Buy Local “Local Food Guide”):
Phoenixville Farmers’ Market (www.PhoenixvilleFarmersMarket.org): (New location this year!) Regular Season runs Saturdays from 9am – 1pm under the Gay Street Bridge from May 8 thru November 20, with live music every week at 10am. (Additionally, during the off-season there area Winter Markets and Special Holidays Markets.) Email: [email protected].
Anselma Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market Historic Mill at Anselma Route 401, .5 mile west of Chester Springs, PA Phone: 610-942-7285 http://anselmamarket. googlepages.com/ Email: anselmamarket@gmail. com Wednesdays: 1pm–6pm
Chester County Farmers’ Markets (a) Government Services Center Entry Patio at 601 Westtown Road West Chester (b) High Street Courthouse Patio at 2 North High Street West Chester. Both on Fridays: 11:30am–1:30pm
Farmers’ Market at Great Valley Penn State Great Valley Campus 30 E. Swedesford Road Malvern, PA 19355 www.sgps.psu.edu/market/default.ashx Email: [email protected]; Thursdays: 11am–2pm.
Kennett Square Farmers’ Market Downtown Kennett Square. Phone: 610-444-8188 www.ksqfarmersmarket. wordpress.com; Email: [email protected]; Fridays: 2pm–6pm.
London Britain Township at Nichol Park, Route 896 Landenberg, PA 19350. Phone: 610-255-0388 www.londonbritaintownship-pa.gov. Email: [email protected]. Fridays: 2pm–6pm
New Garden Growers’ Market Near New Garden Township Park, Route 41. Phone: 610-268-2150 www.newgardengrowers.com, Email: [email protected]. Saturdays: 9am–1pm.
Oxford Village Farm Market in Downtown Oxford at 3rd and Locust Streets. Phone: 610-998-9494. www.oxfordmainstreet.org. Tuesdays: 2pm–6pm.
Parkesburg Farm and Community Market at 315 First Avenue Parkesburg, PA 19365. Phone: 610-857-2616 (Borough Office) www.parkesburg.org Email: [email protected]. Saturdays 9:30am–1:30pm.
The Farmers’ Market at Elverson at Livingood Park at Rt. 23 Elverson, PA 19520. Saturdays: 9am–1pm Email: [email protected].
West Chester Growers’ Market in Downtown West Chester at Church Street parking lot www.westchestergrowers market.com. Email: [email protected]. Saturdays: 9am–1pm
West Grove Farmers’ Market at Harmony Park on Harmony Road near Guersey Road West Grove, PA 19390 Phone: 610-932-5468 www.westgrovefarmersmarket. com. Thursdays: 2pm–6pm.
Take this week to not only participate in some of the farmers’ markets in our area, but to recognize the contributions of local farmers and the tremendous asset they are to the community. “Farmers markets are good for you for health, good for your community, and good for the economy” says Stacy Miller, Executive Director of the Farmers Market Coalition, a nonprofit supporting farmers markets across the country. “During Farmers Market Week, we invite everyone to celebrate the freshest foods from America’s most entrepreneurial farmers by supporting their local farmers markets.” Support your local farmers and the farmers’ markets in our area this week and all year long. Learn more about the Farmers Market Coalition by visiting farmersmarketcoalition.org
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