A loaf of sourdough bread, raspberries and blueberries, multi-colored carrots, cinnamon rolls, cherry pie, and an aptly titled book, “Confessions of a Farmers Market Romeo.” Those were my purchases at the Adams County Farmers Market on a recent, desperately hot, Saturday morning at the Gettysburg rec park.
The difference in rhubarb grown in Alaska versus Pennsylvania, farming the old way, and the possibility of a compost center in Adams County. Those are the conversations I had at the Farmer’s Market.
The sights, sounds, smells, and voices of the market make it one of the most appealing in the area. Some stalls sell hand-crafted jewelry, others, traditional African food, and one vendor, mead. Fruit and veggies are plentiful as are desserts of many kinds, and home-grown meat and pasture raised eggs. For those who can’t wait to go home to eat, food trucks offer a variety of ethnic food and for snacking, there’s popcorn and ice cream. All freshly made, of course.
As I listened to music by live musicians and strolled the grounds, my only regret was that I had once again forgotten the shopping bags in the back of my car, and it was just too hot to walk back. Fortunately, one of the vendors had cloth bags for forgetful patrons to purchase, so I wasn’t bag-shamed by anyone.
The market is open Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April through October. The Adams County Farmers Market Association serves hundreds of lower-income residents and administers thousands of dollars in food assistance benefits annually. It is a charitable nonprofit organization committed to increasing healthy food access and encouraging the bond between agriculture and the community. For more information, go to acfarmersmarkets.org.
Featured Image Caption: James R. Dubbs holds a copy of his book, Confessions of a Farmers Market Romeo, at his stand in the Farmers Market, while on the other side of the Market, his wife, Jo, manages the couple’s bakery business, featuring sweet treats and breads baked by both.
Judith Cameron Seniura is a freelance reporter. She began her journalism career in the early ‘70s and has written for newspapers, magazines, and other media in Ontario, Canada, Alaska, Michigan, Nebraska, San Antonio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.