Local Farmers’ Markets Boosting Economy, and Nutrition

By Danielle Smith of the Public News Service
Republished by Travels With The Post

POTTSTOWN PA – On any given week, a selection of farmers markets across Montgomery, Berks, and Chester counties are ready to greet shoppers with the freshest foods available.

Markets and their vendors are found in Pottstown, Sanatoga, Royersford, Boyertown, Birdsboro, Phoenixville, and elsewhere in the Tri-County region. All are still feeling the pride of National Farmers Market Week. It was observed nationally Aug. 4-10 by the federal Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Some markets reportedly will continue their festivities into this weekend (Aug. 16-18). Many local venues will continue operating into fall. They include:

• Pottstown FARM, 100 East High St., Pottstown PA, every other Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., through Oct. 26;
• SunnyBrook Farm Market, 50 Sunnybrook Rd., Sanatoga PA, Fridays from 4-7 p.m., through Oct. 3;
• Royersford Farm Market, 251 2nd Ave., Royersford PA, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, through Nov. 2;
• Upper Merion Farm Market, 670 N. Henderson Rd. King of Prussia PA, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., through Nov. 23;
• Lansdale Farm Market, at 400 Penn St., Lansdale PA, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., through Dec. 21;
• Phoenixville Farmers’ Market, 200 Mill St. (under the Gay Street bridge), Phoenixville PA, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, through Nov. 23;
• Eagleview Farm Market, 570 Wellington Sq. at Eagleview Town Center, Exton PA, Thursdays from 3-6:30 p.m., through Oct. 31;
• West Chester Growers’ Market, at the corner of North Church and Chestnut streets, West Chester PA, Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., through December;
• Boyertown Evening Market, 129 S. Reading Ave., Boyertown PA, first and third Thursdays from 4-8 p.m., through Sept. 19;
• Birdsboro Farmers Market, Main Bird Park, 226 N. Water St., Birdsboro PA, every other Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., through Oct. 19.

Cultivating food, and community spirit

Pennsylvania has 287 farmers markets. They cultivate community spirit, in addition to providing access to locally grown food, according to the department’s Jenny Lester Moffitt. As federal under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs, she says the markets play a vital role in the local food and farm economy.

The department is putting its money where markets are, Moffitt adds. Its grant programs have already strengthened the market system by supporting small, pop-up fresh food locations around the greater Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas. USDA backing in both regions is increasing the availability of “fresh, healthy, locally grown produce” for consumers who may have few other choices.

Pop-ups also are appearing at Women’s, Infants and Children’s (WIC) clinics in some sectors of Pennsylvania, she reports. The intent is to ensure “that low-income families can get fresh local foods through programs such as WIC and SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Both connect farmers and ranchers with local customers to promote healthy eating and farm growth.

In Pennsylvania’s rural communities, Moffitt says, farmers selling food items in supermarkets and other “mainstream supply chains” earn a return of about 14 to 15 cents of each food dollar. “But when farmers can sell direct to consumers, they (put) much more of that food dollar back in their pockets. Then, of course, that money is circulating in” and benefiting the community.

In Gov. Josh Shapiro’s latest budget, enacted July 11, Pennsylvania received new investments for agriculture innovation and conservation. During the just-ended National Farmers Market Week, the state Department of Agriculture also encouraged farmers to apply for $13 million in tax credits. That money is intended to help them enhance soil health and water quality.

Photos by Travels With The Post