VERNON ACHENBACH JR. Lancaster Fanning Staff HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) The more than a million holiday travelers expected to hit the Pennsylvania Turnpike this Memorial Day holiday weekend are to have two brand new farm markets at which to stop and shop. According to Sharon Fulginiti, state Department of Agriculture coordinator for a pilot program for establishing roadside farm markets along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Friday, May 26, is to be the grand opening of two fami markets on the Pennsylvania Turnpike one at the Allentown Service Plaza in Lehigh County, and the other one at the Sideling Hill Service Plaza in Fulton County. The markets are to be open Fri day, Saturday, Sunday and Mon day. Exact times were not certain at presstime, but bylaws tentative ly set the markets for opening for business at 11 a.m. Fridays and Sundays; 8 a.m. Saturdays and Monday-holidays. Fulginiti is with PDA’s Com modity Promotion Division of the Bureau of Marketing Develop ment and has been working with Pa. Turnpike Commission staff to develop the pilot program markets. The Turnpike Commission operates the toll highway and a number and variety of rest and ser vice stops along the route. Early last year, state Rep. Sheila Miller, R-Berks, introduced legis lation to authorize a program whereby the state’s agricultural producers could directly market to the millions of travelers and toui ists who use the tollway. While that bill was killed under the then Democratic-controlled House, the administration picked • Agricultural • Commercial • Residential Partial In-Ground Tank Featuring Commercial Chain Link Fence (5’ High - SCS approved) • Retaining Walls • Bunker Silos • Manure Storage, Etc. LET OUR EXPERIENCE WORK FOR YOU-ESTABLISHED SINCE 1979! Sizes And Layouts To Your Specifications We Work Hard For Customer Satisfaction! Turnpike Farm Markets up on the idea and initiated the pilot program without the legislation. This year, with a Republican controlled House and Senate and administration. Miller re introduced the legislation as House Bill 844, which die House passed. Cunendy it has received Erst consideration by the full Senate. A bill can only be passed by the Senate upon third consideration. With the Senate scheduled to be back in session on Monday, Tues day and Wednesday, it’s possible the bill could be fowarded in the legislative process, but very unlikely that it would be passed and signed into law in time for the grand opening of the pilot markets. Miller’s bill would allow more market access, as would be deter mined is safe and reasonable. In a recent news release, Miller praised the alliance between the Turnpike Commission and the PDA that occured after she intro duced the concept. “This is proving to be a very positive alliance. Travelers along the Turnpike will experience the rich agricultural history of our commonwealth in its most direct' and simplest form. “Furthermore, our farmers will tap into an extraordinary market of interstate travelers along the' turn pike,” she said, adding that, “This will provide farmers with an opportunity to boost revenue while showcasing and promoting the variety and quality of Pennsylvani a’s agricultural products.” The reason Miller has pushed for legislation to authorize the far mers markets is to prevent the pos sibility of possible partisan politics from hurting the program, or in other words, to maintain continui- INC. 430 Concrete Ave., Leola, PA 717-656-2016 ty in the program. And she said she wants the prog ram to grow as big as it will through the initiative of the farmer-participants themselves, not through a government-created and mandated program. In the meantime, the pilot prog ram has developed with the organi zation of groups specific to each of the two pilot farm market sites. Each farm market group has 10 approved members and a set of bylaws that die farmer-producers created for themselves. The bylawys outline general business conduct, responsibilities, qualifications for vendors, hours of operation, a minimum number of people working the markets, and products approved for sale. While the two sets of bylaws are slightly different, both are general ly the same, and require that member-vendors must be Pennsyl vania producers who grow not less than SO percent of the products marketed through the turnpike ser vice area markets. Furthermore, the products must 6e grown in Pennsylvania. For those who run short of their own state-produced product, the bylaws allow them to supplement with additional stocks, as long as they are Pennsylvania-produced. While business activity that results from the pilot program is envisioned as being complimen tary and representative of die state and its agricultural producers, the nature of the actual markets is expected to evolve as customers and vendors conduct business. According to the section in bylaws concerning the Pennsylvania-grown products approved for sale at both the Allen- Authorized Dealer For KEYSTONE CONCRETE PRODUCTS • H-Bunks • J-Bunks • Trench Silo Walls • Hog & Cattle Slats Debut Friday town and Sideling Hill markets, vendors are to be allowed to sell: vegetable (no slices); cider (not less than 'A quart); flowers; canned goods; baked goods (whole pies, load bread, etc. no slices, cookies or scones); fruits (no slices); preserves (in jar); bedding plants; honey products; eggs; nuts; herbs; fruit baskets; potted plants; maple syrup products; melons (may be sold in halves); and orna mentals, such as gourds, com shucks, etc. The Sideling Hill market is to also offer meats, but no single servings. The reason for some of the restr ictions on how the products are to be packaged or in what amounts they are to be sold is to prevent the farmer markets from competing with the snack shop and conveni ence meal franchises already oper ating at the service centers, and to encourage venders to promote and market whole Pennsylvania pro ducts that consumers take home, or along on vacation. Also, the bylaws make clear that all food safety, sanitation, health permits and labeling issues that apply to items being sold must conform with the requirements of the law. Also, state sales tax is to be col lected on products which are not eatable, as is required by law. Facilities at the two sites are to start off simply, with pole sup ported pavilions. On Wednesday, Bill Capone, assistant director of marketing for the Turnpike Commission, said that simple pavilions are to be con structed this coming week, just in time for use. 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Or Naylor and Hoof 'n Heel are registered trademarks of tha H W Naylor Company, Inc Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 20, 1995-A33 He said that the commission intends to upgrade the facilities as needed and as the markets evolve. Fo* now, both facilities are to be open-sided, 30-foot by 60-foot structures located in grassy areas in front of restaurant buildings at the two service centers. Capone said the siting of the pavilion* was done so as to not interfere with regular center visitor traffic, but also to allow easy access. There will not be any spe cial parking sections for the open ing weekend, and none planned, unless the situation warrants a change. “The reason for these two areas,” Capone said, “there are lot of grass areas and we had a lot of room to work with. "At most of the other (service centers), with a couple of excep tions, it’s difficult to find safe, con venient locations, that are attrac tive and appealing as well.” The commission is absorbing the cost of building the facilities, with an estimated cost of $B,OOO at Sideling Hill to $12,000 at Allentown. Capone said eventually the pavilions may get electric hookup and water, and “Down the road there may be oiiicr things, rain gut ters, maybe walkways, lighting ... we will address things as we get into it. We’re wiling to enhance the buildings as we go along, to try to keep them as attractive and func tional as we can.” Another reason for selecting the two sites for the pilot program was because they are accessible from both directions of traffic. The majority of service centers along (Turn to Page ASS) • NON-TOXIC • ODORLESS • NO WITHHOLDING %
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