If you are someone who truly appreciates food origins and the people who make local foods, then the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show has “you” written all over it.
The event is held at the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, which was built in 1966. It is 26 acres in size and has three arenas and 11 buildings. It is huge—and frankly, I was overwhelmed by its size. Where to go, who to see, what to eat? The PA Farm Show contains more than 300 commercial exhibitors and over 13,000 competitive exhibits (from cakes and cookies to livestock, honey and more). The place was packed. I knew that it was a well-thought-out event because there was even a huge indoor playground for the kids!
In the category of “do what you know,” I headed to the food area with the focus on condiments. I love condiments and apples, so I was in my happy place. (And yes, if you haven’t dipped an apple in hot sauce, you haven’t lived!) Jams, jellies and fruit spreads were also in abundance, and with samples galore, there was a lot of food to try and to enjoy.
Top Farm Show Favorites
Hot Sauce: There were many vendors hawking pepper sauces, but Bill’s Best BBQ was my favorite. From Glenside, Pa., Bill’s sons were greeting everyone and handing out samples. The sauce is free of corn syrup solids and no refined or white sugars, and has several flavors that say, “POW!” The backstory to this product is that Bill was a retired schoolteacher when he was diagnosed with a rare form of dementia. His sons took over the business and now donate 10% of sales to dementia research. Sauces are available at Mom’s Organic Market and area Whole Foods Market stores.
Hummus: Sometimes, you have to think outside the garbanzo bean to make a really good hummus. Deborah Mitchell of Lancaster Hummus Company has done just that. She’s created an amazing array of different and tasty hummus, including a new cranberry variety that would be perfect on any cracker or salad. My favorite, though, was the kale-lemon hummus, which is rich in texture and flavor.
Jams and Jellies: If you’re a nut butter fan, your favorite “PB and J” will be elevated to the next level when you taste the jams from Christina Maser. I’d call her a food designer because the full array of her jams and jellies will have you wanting more. How about a peanut butter and blueberry jam (with basil and lemon) sandwich? This busy mother (and grandmother) creates a full food line that includes pasta sauce, mustard, soup mixes and shrubs. Her strawberry shrub is wildly popular and, in fact, is a finalist in the national Good Food Awards.
6 Tips If You Go
- Grab a map/program at the entrance. It will help you get your bearings straight.
- Check out the cooking demos on the professional stages, featuring TV grade demos by some of the best in the field.
- Take cash. Many vendors do not take plastic.
- Parking, which is $10, may be a challenge. However, off-site parking is available—and at lower rates.
- Pack a lunch, unless you like standing on very long food lines. (We did grab and go and bought from vendors throughout the show, and then found a place to eat.)
- Plan to spend the day. There’s lots to see.
My drive home on a mist-filled PA Turnpike made me feel very rich. Rich in that we live in a commonwealth that supports agriculture in such a fun and real way. I was also thinking about the 1.8 pound potato that won some contest. I thought about being on a diet and saying, “But I only ate ONE potato!”
The PA Farm Show, which runs through January 16, is the gateway to learning more about what we eat and where it is sourced. For more information, head to http://www.farmshow.state.pa.us/.
The PA Farm Show is located at 2302 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg.
- Photos: Char Nolan
