Spring and summer are great times to explore and have some fun visiting a few of our local farmers’ markets. You can also make it a great time to spend together with family and an educational trip with your children. Check out this link for some creative ideas.
Shopping at local farmers’ markets is beneficial in many ways:
- It preserves American rural livelihoods and farmland
- It increases access to fresh & nutritious foodIt supports healthy communities
- It promotes sustainability
- It shortens the food chain which gives us more food security and reduces pollution from long-distance transport
At producer-only farmers’ markets, each of the farmers and food artisans must grow, raise, or produce the items they sell, thus providing market communities with fresh food produced in the region. A few local markets to check out are:
Media Farmers’ Market is held on Sundays, 10-1PM from May through November and on 1st & 3rd Sundays from 10-12 noon during the winter. This market is growing in popularity and always adding new vendors. You will be able to find organic vegetables, fruit, pasture raised meats, cheeses, ice cream, and other prepared foods and flowers! You can also bring food to donate to the Media food bank. Please remember to bring your own reusable grocery bags. Also, make time for lunch or a coffee at one of Media’s great restaurants.
West Chester Grower’s Market is held on Saturdays from 9 to 1PM. This market started in 1995! They still have three of those original families participating in the market: Ever Green (formerly Windy Acres Farm), Fahnestock’s Fruit Farm, and North Star Orchard. They are a cooperative market which means every vendor has a say in the direction of the market and vendors that the market takes on. The market offers several vegetable and fruit stands (cash only), meats, coffee, tea, cheeses and prepared foods. It is always fun to check out the shops in downtown West Chester before or after shopping, too.
Newtown Square Farmers’ Market is starting its second season in June. The market is held on Fridays, 3-6PM, in the parking lot of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 3625 Chapel Rd, Newtown Square.
Thornton Farmers’ Market, Saturdays, 10 to 1PM is in a beautiful park like setting. The majority of vendors are from the local community selling produce, flowers and their homemade creations. For more information and additional markets, please check out our Media Eats Local Farmers’ Markets Resource Guide!
