With the idea of summertime fresh on our minds, many of us find ourselves daydreaming of the glorious days ahead. For some this might mean trips to greenhouses, maybe planting a garden or getting some of those renovations knocked off of that to-do list. For many, this is market season.
Weekly markets have forever served as the direct connection between producer and consumer. Anywhere you look in the world there are markets. In our part of the world, as time wore on and lifestyles transitioned from homesteading into city-living, markets have stood as key economical components.
Food that is grown locally is healthier as it has time to ripen on the vine. It travels less distance before consumption. This food is typically grown with fewer chemicals and with more care. Buying products from other people who live in our community keeps that money in the local economy. Plus, there is a connection made when you’re making eye contact with the person or people who grew your food as you thank them and take your goods back to your own families.
Image: Cameron County Farmers Market
It was in 2020 and now in a post-2020 world that many consumers, and economists, are finding the true value of our beloved, traditional markets. When world trade stopped moving, even if only for a moment, the effects were felt far and wide. As supermarkets ran out of inventory and shipping disasters wreaked havoc on supply chains – there was panic. We were reminded there’s a different way to shop. With the introduction of greenhouses coupled with food storage techniques such as canning, freezing, and dehydrating, households could very well have access to fresh and local produce all year round.
Local producers create an insulation within their communities. Their produce and products cushion smaller, local economies from the ups and downs of global markets. We can shop differently, more confidently.
Growing food is an art. It is one art form among many that is needed and welcomed. As farmers markets have expanded, artisans have started showing up as well. Vendors, crafters, artisans of all types have been brought into the market space, either as stand-alone events or in conjunction with traditional farmers’ markets.
Laura Wilson Antonelli is the organizer for Blue Jay Market, a new event taking place in the Bennetts Valley Community Center. In 2023 Bennetts Valley residents watched as the elementary school closed its doors, unsure if the building would continue to serve the community. Laura, who makes wreaths and arrangements, saw a way to squeeze potential out of the situation. The school is now a community center, providing a 37-space event at which local makers, artisans, can showcase their works and forge connections.
She says, “As both an artisan and a planner, it makes me feel good to be giving artisans a space. As a planner, I notice that people really seem to like the experience of meeting the person who made the item they are interested in. I enjoy the personal connection to the faces I see week after week. As a vendor, whether I sell a wreath or an arrangement, making the personal connection goes so much further. They will remember you, and eventually when the occasion or gifting opportunity is right, they will search you out and buy your product.”
The connection, it’s something that cannot be understated, for the vendors and the consumers!
There is something to be said about an atmosphere that has live music in the background, the smells of a food truck nearby, and the sight of vendor tents filled with artwork created by your neighbors.
It is something that Valerie, who organizes the Cameron County Farmers Market, held onto when she moved to the area in 2019. When talking about her new home, Valerie says she was impressed with how Emporium was coming alive with local entrepreneurs setting up new businesses and how they were starting to host regular festivals and live music events. It was inspiring, and the idea of starting a farmers’ market resonated with her.
Wanting to be a part of the revival, she networked and found Josh Zucal who, in previous years, had wanted to start a market in town. Josh is now serving as a County Commissioner and lent a lot of support in getting the market off the ground.
Image: Josh Zucal at the Cameron County Farmers Market
Josh and Valerie aimed to support 3 goals: healthy lifestyles, sustainability, and the local economy. She says, “We want to promote and encourage community agriculture, ie. small-time farmers who are interested in growing and producing food to sell directly to the community. Local, sustainable agriculture is a much healthier way to eat, better for the environment, and good for the local economy. This not only includes fresh produce but also home-made foods such as baked goods, honey products, eggs, maple syrup and canned goods. And, although traditionally farmers markets focus mainly on food items, I liked the idea of also including local artisans.”
With that, Cameron County Farmers Market was born in May 2022. They’ve created a Facebook page where each vendor is spotlighted, providing a platform and visibility for the grower/maker.
The vendors at CC Farmers Market have seen success too! Valerie says of her participating vendors, “Another big positive is including our young people. We have several vendors, still in high school or recently graduated, with various talents (baking, crafting, growing) who have been very successful at the markets.”
When asked about growth opportunities, she responded, “We have so many talented people in our community and the market has given them the space to trial their products, gain skills in selling and marketing them, and reach a community eager to support their neighbors. It’s really great to see vendors coming back this year with new products to sell, they are expanding their businesses, trying new things and seeing a really positive response from the shoppers.”
A popular vendor at the Cameron County Farmers Market is a mother/daughter team of bakers who enjoy spending time together and whose breads have been so popular they are now expanding into making sweet desserts.
Image: Mother and daughter, Laura and Theresa
Another expanding Artisan is Bonnie Troemel with Mountain View Sheep Farm who has been bringing her beautifully woven shawls, that she shears, spins and weaves herself from her own small herd of Shetland sheep. This year she has added a large selection of beautiful handmade soaps, which have proven very popular. She now sells them in various stores and festivals in neighboring counties. A definite success story!
Image: The table for the Mountain View Sheep Farm
Businesses in town are busier on market days. The Hygrade Inn participates in the market and brings an opportunity for non-locals to schedule trips and stay in Emporium just for the experience of attending the market. It is the atmosphere on market days that really seem to be catching people’s attention.
Valerie and her husband, Steve, in addition to planning and organizing the market, are now also vending there as well. Their business, Calder Wilds, focuses on filling the need for fresh produce in the area. They have expanded their own vegetable garden and have started a mushroom farm in hopes of offering exotic mushrooms into the market space. This year was the first year they offered vegetable plants, which they grew from seed, next to the booth where a barefooted Josh offered education on compost and growing conditions.
Image: Valerie and Steve, of the Calder Wilds shop
Over in Ridgway, a revival is seen to be happening as well. In 2022 Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA) was approached about taking on the 2023 season.
Sara Frank, the Executive Director of ECCOTA, spoke about what it means to pull all these elements together. Mentioning the dedication she’s seen from the vendors and the borough to ensure the residents of Ridgway continue to have their Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market saying, “We received so much positive feedback following the 2023 Market season!”
She highlighted how significant it is to have support from the borough, “It allowed us access to an incredible public space. All of the vendors were thrilled with the location change, the accessibility, parking, and most importantly, roof cover from the sun and weather. Having to own, bring, and set up a tent can be prohibitive for some people, so we thought this was a great advantage.”
Image: A vendor at the Ridgway Farmers Market
Along with a new venue the collaboration of ECCOTA and the vendors allowed for the adding of music to the market for the first time last season. “It brought in larger audiences and crowds tended to linger longer,” said Sara. “This year we will have music for 11 of the 15 Market weeks, on the new and improved stage area at the Market site. We don’t always have opportunities to financially support local musicians, so this was a great opportunity for the arts council to expand in that direction.”
Image: JB Unplugged playing at the Ridgway Farmers Market
Also new this year at the Ridgway Farmers Market are theme days, including a Kids Day with performances and vendors specific to kids’ interests and agriculture education. A resident artist of ECCOTA will be hosting a painting project at the market for 4 weeks, which is open to anyone. Sara added, “We hope to add more activities like this. Overall, I am so excited to see how we keep growing.”
There has been significant efforts in recent years in Elk and Cameron Counties to ensure that consumers have access to these goods, and that producers have the space to access the public.
Johnsonburg Community Trust has added an Artisan & Heritage Night Market Saturday, July 12th, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. during Alumni & Friends Event Weekend Celebration, where makers see a surge of community members of all ages and interests mingle on the Historical Market Street of Johnsonburg.
In St. Marys the market returned in 2022. Libby Slye, the market manager, agrees that the market is both wanted and needed, its growth shows that it has a purpose. Libby stated, “Since coming back in 2022, an average market day now hosts 14-18 vendors.”
Image: St. Marys Farmers Market
It is effort, atmosphere, hard work, dedication, and understanding that we are all better when we work together that has lent its hand to bringing our markets back to full swing. Come visit one of these wonderful markets, you’ll without a doubt return home with a smile and a story!
Market locations, dates, times, and contact info below.
The Cameron County Market
The market will be held twice a month in 2024, on every 2nd & 4th Saturdays of the month, from May until October. Enjoy baked goods, jams and jellies, soaps, vegetables, fruits, vendors, artisans and even live music at the Emporium Town Square (44 E 4th St, Emporium, PA) from 9 a.m. to noon. Want to have a table or booth? Contact Valerie at ccfarmersmarketpa@gmail.com .
St. Marys Farmers Market
Held every Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., starting July 13th through the end of September in the Market Street Parking Lot by the Bell Tower in St. Marys. Enjoy farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, and artisans and vendors. Want to have a table? Contact Libby Sly at libbyslye@yahoo.com or message the St. Marys Heritage Preservation Group on Facebook.
Johnsonburg Artisan & Heritage Night Market
Held Saturday July 12th, 2024, 4 to 11 p.m. during Alumni & Friends Event Weekend Celebration in Johnsonburg! Friday night, they’ll kick off the weekend on Market Street, in the center of the Commercial Historic District, downtown Johnsonburg with 2000+ visitors. Even more festival goers expected for 2024! Market Street will be center stage for the Artisan & Heritage Market, exhibits/displays in the now open Heritage Education & Welcome Center, live music from headliner Trixx, Fireworks sponsored by Domtar and the Johnsonburg Borough beginning at 10, food trucks, local business specials, and many other activities. Application here for new vendors.
Benezette BeeZee Flea & Farmers Market
The Bee Zee Flea & Farmer’s Market will be held on Saturday, June 15 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Benezette School House. This monthly flea & farmers market, offers a little something for everybody. Interested in selling your wares at the Bee Zee Flea? 12 x 12 spaces for just $25, with those proceeds going to the Benezette School Fund as they raise money for new windows and doors for the historical school building. Email BZflea@gmail.com to reserve your space.
Blue Jay Market
Held monthly in 2024 (June 8, July 20, August 3, September 14, October 5, November 23, December 7), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Bennetts Valley Community Center Gymnasium at 19073 Bennetts Valley Hwy, Weedville, PA 15868. Want to be a vendor? Contact Laura Wilson Antonelli or email BlueJayMarket@yahoo.com
Ridgway Farmers Market by ECCOTA
The 2024 Season of the Ridgway Farmer’s Market will be held every Tuesday, beginning Tuesday, July 9, 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. The Market is held at the Ridgway Mills Campsites, 260 West Main Street, Ridgway, PA. Runs until October, with make-and-take art, vendors, food, and music. Details & Application Link
Mid Town Parking Lot, downtown Warren. Saturdays, June through the end of October, 8 AM to 12 Noon.
Located on Veterans Square, downtown Bradford. Open every Friday, June through the second week of October, Noon to 6 PM.
Saturdays 9 AM to 1 PM, Hamlin Bank Parking Lot on Greeves Street, Downtown Kane. Also, Wednesdays 3 PM to 6 PM, Classic Car Wash, North Fraley Street. Through the end of October, weather permitting.
Located on Courthouse Square in downtown Coudersport. Open Fridays from 1 PM to 6 PM, Memorial Day weekend (late May) through mid-October.
Open every Thursday, 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM, from mid-May through the second week of October, located on the lawn of the First Presbyterian Church, 130 Main St. in Wellsboro.
Clinton County Fairgrounds, Mackeyville, 8 AM to 2 PM, May through September. Every Tuesday throughout spring, summer and fall (except during the County Fair). An indoor/outdoor market of seasonal fruits, vegetables and plants, crafts and flea market items, food and more.
The market is open year-round, located downtown in the parking lot at 249 Little League Boulevard & Pine Street. Hours from late April through November, are 8 AM to 12:30 PM, from December through mid-April, the market goes from 9 AM to Noon.
160 Dunlap St & W. Lamb Street in the Gamble Mill parking lot, Bellefonte. The market is open Saturdays, in season, from 8 AM to Noon in the Gamble Mill parking. The market is in full swing by the first of April and continues through the last week of October. Outdoors in November weather permitting.
Located in the municipal parking lot on the corner of Front and East Presqueisle Streets in Philipsburg the market is open Saturdays, 8 AM to 4 PM, June through October.
Corner of South Brady (Rt. 219) and Long Avenue, downtown Dubois. Saturdays through October 13, 8 AM to 11 AM.
Operates every Saturday from 8 AM until Noon, May through October on Main Street, next to the Clarion County Courthouse in Clarion.
Open every Friday 4 PM to 7 PM at the Knox Community Park, Knox, PA. June through mid-September.
Kalie fell in love with the PA Wilds after moving to The Wilds with her parents and younger sister in 2006. When they found their soon to be home in Weedville, it was love at first hike. The girls would spend all their time wandering and exploring the vastness that was perpetually available; it was here that Kalie thought “everyone should get to experience this: wild, raw nature.” Graduating from Slippery Rock University with a Major in Environmental Studies and a Minor in Nonprofit Management, she set out on her mission. After graduating she decided to remain in Elk County. Now residing in St. Marys, she continues to spend her time soaking up the PA Wilds through kayaking, fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, and motorcycling through the mountains every chance she gets. Kalie now serves as the Secretary for Elk County Council on the Arts and launched her own business, GrACE by Kalie Anne, LLC. Focused on bringing Green Alternatives & Community Education to the forefront of the local economy Kalie aims to create a more sustainable future, ensuring everyone has a chance to experience the very same vastness she fell in love with. Her website, GrACEbyKalieAnne.com features directories that spotlight the businesses, products, and services offered in and around Elk County.
Author: Guest Contributor
The Pennsylvania Wilds is home to more than 2 million acres of public land, 50 state game lands, 29 state parks, 8 state forests, 2 National Wild & Scenic Rivers, abundant wildlife, hundreds of miles of land and water trails, some of the darkest skies in the country, and the largest elk herd in the northeast.
The PA Wilds team is grateful to share the many stories of this region through the words and images of our talented guest contributors.