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| CONTACT: | Corie
Cutler |
GPTMC |
(215) 599-0776 |
Philadelphia’s Farmers’ Markets Contribute History, Fun and Nutritional Aid
PHILADELPHIA, PA., June 8, 2000 – The van departs at sunrise from the countryside of Pennsylvania, transporting Amish merchants to Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia four days a week. These merchants are part of a history of farmers’ markets in the city stretching back to its earliest days. Despite the Depression, 10 of the 64 merchants were original stand holders from the market’s opening in 1892. Through the economic turbulence of the 20th century, the Amish continue to share their produce and baked goods. Today, three of the 86 merchants are descendants of original stand holders. They have been joined by merchants reflecting the melting pot that is Philadelphia – like Alfoncie B. Austin, who was the first African American to own a business in this market with the opening of The Basic 4 Vegetarian Snack Bar. Visitors can stroll through the vast food bazaar and buy everything including handcrafted imported crafts, American quilts, fruit, fresh dairy goods, flowers, cookbooks, meat and health food.
Out of Reading Terminal and the Philadelphia region’s outdoor market tradition, grew a project called Farmers’ Market Trust, founded in 1992 by Duane Perry and Evelyn Seymour. The Trust works to create and strengthen programs throughout Philadelphia to bring nutrition education and healthy eating to the financially challenged and to benefit farmers. Working with Philabundance, the Greater Philadelphia Food Bank, the Philadelphia Cooperative Extension and others, they have taught cooking to teens, broadened interest in outdoor markets and brought stable affordable food sources to at-risk families. Initiatives in addition to those of the Trust include participation by Pennsylvania farmers in the USDA’s Anti-Hunger Initiative, which in 1999 provided over 4,000 lbs. of food to D.C. Central Kitchen that feeds almost 3,000 people daily.
Farmers benefit from having direct access to markets to increase farm income and a 1996 USDA survey found consumers have benefited by greatly increasing their intake of fresh foods in the last five years because of the availability of farmers’ markets. Consumers also noted that they seek direct contact with the farmers. These markets, from Reading Terminal in Center City to the farms of the countryside, have also become major tourist attractions, providing family fun to visitors to the region. Consumers and tourists can buy products with the knowledge that they are eating healthy and helping to do good at the same time, while experiencing a special piece of the social history of Philadelphia and enjoying unique Amish specialties and other goods from around the world. Whether taking a hayride at a countryside farm stand or watching the free cooking demonstrations at Reading Terminal Market, visitors and shoppers have a wide array of family fun awaiting them at the markets in the Philadelphia region.
Popular markets for residents and tourists alike include:
In Philadelphia:
In Montgomery County:
8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., (215) 233-5303
12 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.,
(610) 489-3338
2 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., (610) 367-2461
In Chester County:
In Bucks County:
In Delaware County:
For more information, contact State Farmers’ Market Representative Michael Varner of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture by calling (717) 787-2376 or e-mail at mvarner@pda005.pda.state.pa.us and request a copy of A Consumers’ Guide to Pennsylvania Farm Markets.
Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. Visit www.gophila.com or call (888) GO-PHILA.
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