Down on the FARM
Farmer’s Market active for third year; 5k race also planned
POTTSTOWN » Pottstown Farm and Artisan Regional Market is back and running for its third straight year, and things have changed for the better.
“We’ve moved it to have more of a communal feel, I think, as opposed to straight down (the road),” Market Director Sheila Dugan said. “It seems to be working very well.”
This year’s market, which is held at the northwest corner of High and Charlotte streets in Pottstown, is set to take place the second and fourth Thursday of each month. It will run through Oct. 11.
“The first two years were hard building the momentum to convince vendors to come out,” Dugan said. “This year we’ve got over 25 vendors. Big variety: nice amount of vegetables and meat and things like that, vinegars. So we are really excited that this year it kind of is pumped.”
Vendors include the threeyear participants Candy Crazy and Words of Art by Ali J. Other vendors include: Beverly’s Pastry Shop, New-Bee Ranch, MOSAIC Community Land Trust, and Manatawny Still Works.
Over 18 different zip codes have visited the market over the years, according to Dugan.
Activities, such as the twobite club, which encourages kids to try new foods for a coin to spend at the market, are back as well.
“The two-bite club we’ve done from the beginning, but we were only able to do it one time a month,” Dugan said. “We asked for a little bit more in the grant money and we are able to do it every time the FARM is here, as well as offering the SNAP incentive.”
The SNAP incentive program “is for those who need assistance purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables,” according to the website. Participants can receive a $5 coin to be spent on food items at the market.
The next farmer’s market will be on June 28. Unlike the other’s this summer, it will be held at Riverfront Park, in conjunction to the 5k that day.
“We’ve already gotten more runners than we have in the past signed up,” Dugan said.
The 5k was originally created by Dugan’s daughter, who is going into her senior year at Susquehanna University. She started it as her high school senior project. It has since been a fundraiser for PDIDA and the FARM, according to Dugan.
The race this year is to the farm, as the vendors will be down there, Dugan said. All racers get a $5 coin to spend at the market.
“I think the whole feel and everything has really started to pop,” Dugan said. “Having all of these businesses along the corridor is great. The pub’s open. The ice cream place is open. We have a lot of good momentum.” In the future, Dugan said she hopes to grow the market into the parking lot.
“I need … the borough and everybody to jump in on that plan,” Dugan said. “Because losing a parking lot can be detrimental, but it’s only nine nights for a couple of hours.”
The Pottstown FARM is a place for “fresh, locally grown agricultural products and handmade artisan goods” to come together and be shared amongst the community, according to the website.
The FARM is run and organized by volunteers. It is supported by a grant from Pottstown Health and Wellness Foundation along with PDIDA. To take part, contact Dugan at 610-3235400 or sheiladugan@comcast.net.