The Main Street Farmers’ Market at The Cooperage
The Main Street Farmers’ Market at The Cooperage, 1030 Main Street in Honesdale, reopened for its 8th season on Wednesday, June 3. The market will run from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. every Wednesday through October 28.
What’s new this year? An extra hour of shopping time. This additional hour will give new shoppers the opportunity to visit the market, and give returning Main Street Market goers a larger window of time to run their errands.
Stop by and browse a variety of locally grown, seasonal, and fresh vegetables and fruits, meats, eggs, fresh cut flowers, bedding plants, breads, pastries, as well as jams & jellies.
Venders starting off the season include The Anthill Farm, Safford Farm, Quails-R-Us, and Beach Lake Bakery.
The Anthill Farm is run by Sky Ballentine and Monique Milleson. The “Ants” are working to create ecological food production systems which mimic nature and a perennial-based production model that uses agroforestry and silvopasture as its foundation. You’ll find pesticide-free and naturally grown seasonal produce at their market stand. Safford Farm is run by Tim Baldwin and Susan Carroll of Lake Ariel. Safford Farm offers fresh and sustainable produce, fresh cut flowers, herbs, and plant starts for your garden at home.
Quails-R-Us is a third generation poultry farm run by Rick and Linda Franciosa located just north of Honesdale. Visit their stand to find organic and free range chicken and quail eggs, along with fresh meats from chicken, guinea, quail, turkey, rabbit, lamb, and more.
Beach Lake Bakery is run by Brian and Lisa Woods. The Woods began baking European-style artisan breads out of the garage of their home in Beach Lake in the late 1990s and are still going strong! Beach Lake Bakery will bring fresh bread, pies, cookies, brownies, and even dog treats to market.
Local food also builds and supports our local community. Research indicates that 70% of money spent at local stores stays local, while less than 20% of money spent at large chain stores remains in the local community.
In addition to farmers and bakers, you will find a weekly rotation of artisan vendors and local producers who offer a range of products, including honey, prepared foods, skin care products, herbal tea blends, handmade clothing, accessories, and much, much more.
Feeling a little sore? Stop by for a massage from the Beach Lake Wellness Center, starting June 10.
And be sure to check out the The Market Café featuring the Anthill Farm Kitchen. At this “pop-up” eatery, you can pick up a delicious and nutritious farm to table meal crafted from the freshest seasonal and local products.
At The Main Street Farmers’ Market, all full-season vendors live within a 50-mile radius of Honesdale. This market places an emphasis on producers: all of our vendors grown their own fruits and vegetables, raise their own livestock, and prepare their own specialty goods.
The phrase “farm to table” isn’t just a trend. Local food tastes better, looks better, and is better for you. Food imported from far away spends most of its time on trucks, planes, or in warehouses. The longer the fresh food sits in transit, the more nutrients and flavor it loses. Food purchased at a farmers’ market is harvested at its peak ripeness and sold that day at the market.
Worried about the price? Believe it or not, farmers and artisans are able to offer lower prices for higher quality ingredients at farmers markets because they are able to keep packaging to a minimum, reduce their fuel consumption, and eliminate the “middle man.”
Local food also builds and supports our local community. Research indicates that 70% of money spent at local stores stays local, while less than 20% of money spent at large chain stores remains in the local community. By supporting your local farmers and artisans, you are helping to create an economically sustainable community right here in Honesdale.
The Main Street Farmers’ Market at The Cooperage is more than just a farmers’ market. It’s a vibrant and friendly gathering spot, a place to catch a quick breath from busy summer activities. A place to meet up with a friend. A place to grab a cup of joe or a bite to eat. A place to get to know your local farmer. And of course, a place to find the freshest of local agricultural products.
The summer market will run every Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. through October 28. For the most up-to-date information please call 570.253.2020 or visit www.thecooperageproject.org.
The Cooperage Farmers’ Market is a program of The Cooperage Project, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that seeks to build community through performance, learning and good times. For more information about the market or The Project, please visit www.thecooperageproject.org or call 570.253.2020.
