!4—Lancaster Farming. Saturday. Oct. 25. 1975
2
Farmers market termed success
By Dieter Kricg
HARRISBURG - The
Farmers Market at the
Farm Show Complex
parking lot, which has been
in operation since July 15, is
nearing the end of its first
season and is being dubbed a
success by vegetable
growers who have par
ticipated.
Conceived by the Penn
sylvania Department of
Agriculture, the market has
been in operation every
Tuesday and Friday rain
or shine and has attracted
farmers from more than 50
miles away During the peak
of the season, more than 40
vegetable and fruit growers
took part in the program
Now. near the end of Oc
tober, with the days of the
market numbered, only 14
remain
Participating farmers
liked a number of things
about the sales facilities, but
also had some suggestions
for improvements
Regardless of their feelings
they all indicated a
willingness and even an
eagerness to participate
again next year
Earl Miller of Dover R 3.
for example, thinks retailing
is the only answer Owner of
a 10-acre vegetable farm and
100 hives of bees, he sells all
of his products directly to the
consumer cither in
Harrisburg or at his stand in
York. This year he moved
approximately half of his
produce through the Farm
Show lot.
“I estimate a couple
thousand people came
through here in a week when
we were really busy." said
Ernest Rethcrford. a farmer
from Middletown R 1 who
specializes in watermelons
and cantaloupes He took
about 10 per cent of his
produce to the Harrisburg
market this year and is
hopeful of bnnemg more
next year if the facilities
open earlier next year
Weather seemed to be one
ot the major nroblems the
farmers had at the open
marKet maee Heavy rains a
few weeks ago reallv hurt
them, they said adding that
light rams weren t too bad
On a particularly rainy day
w e can count on taking per
cent of our produce home
we don't even bother to
unload." one fellow said
Robert Morgan travels 55
miles one way from his 10-
acre vegetable farm near
Pitman He told Lancaster
Farming he sells all he can
at the Farm Show and
peddles the rest door-to-door
in the Pitman area Besides
that, he also maintains a
stand at his farm When
The Farmers Market at the Farm Show Complex Agriculture, the open-air market is now concluding
parking lot has been a success according to its first season, and farmers who took part hope it
vegetable growers who participated in it. Con- will go on again next year,
ceived by the Pennsylvania Department of
asked what the market needs
most to be improved.
Morgan unhesitatingly
responded ‘‘more
customers ”
“I haven’t missed a day thusiastically as he fetched a located about 55 miles
yet,” Robert Wedde stated bag for a customer. “This is northeast of Harrisburg. He
with a bit of pride when he the coming thing,” he says he tends two other
was asked how long he had continued, “people want markets besides the one at
been coming to Harrisburg fresh vegetables.” the Farm Show, but sells
to sell his produce. “I like it Wedde has a 30-acre nearly three-quarters of his
real well, it’s a good vegetable farm near Begins,
market,” he said en- Schuylkill County, which is
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