Local Farmers’ Markets Make a Positive Impact

By: Chelsey Hennemuth

What’s the best way to start “going green”? How about buying produce and products from your local farmers’ market? These foods are not only fresh, affordable, often organic, and good for your health, but they are also good for our community and the environment. By shopping at a farmers’ market, you will boost the local economy, minimize the impact long-haul transportation costs have on natural resources and the environment, and help to support the growing trend of sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is:

“A way of raising food that is healthy for consumers and animals, does not harm the environment, is humane for workers, respects animals, provides a fair wage to the farmer, and supports and enhances rural communities.”

This philosophy is the exact opposite of the more common industrial forms of food production, and promotes balance among all aspects of farming.

From May until November, markets offer a variety of foods, including fresh produce, prepared foods, baked goods, and seasonal flowers. Fortunately for Pittsburghers, the farmers’ market scene is booming in the summer months. Whether you live in a distant suburb or right in the city, finding a market to shop shouldn’t be too difficult. In fact, one of the best markets in the city can be found, well, in the city – in the Strip District. Farmers @ Firehouse, sponsored by Slow Food Pittsburgh, opened on Saturday, May 7, 2011 on Penn Avenue in the Strip. Visitors can find anything from seasonal produce to locally-raised meat and poultry, as well as fresh bread. Also look for cooking demonstrations throughout the season, including one by chef and owner of Dinette, and former “Featured Chick,” Sonja Finn.

Pittsburgh already demonstrates a strong sense of community and the ability to support our local farmers simply keeps that community growing. For more information on Farmers @ Firehouse, visit www.slowfoodpittsburgh.com/farmers. Interested in sustainable agriculture? Check out www.sustainabletable.org.

Below is a list of local markets in the Pittsburgh area, courtesy of  The Post Gazette:

Ambridge Farmers’ Market, St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 624 Park Road off Route 65. 4 to 7 p.m. Thurs. May 5 to Nov. 17; open Nov. 22.

BEAVER FARMERS MARKET, courthouse lot, 4th and Market sts. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. May 7 to Dec. 17.

BEAVER FALLS FARMERS MARKET, new location 1911 Seventh Ave. 4 to 7 p.m. Mon. May 2 to Nov. 21.

BEECHVIEW (CITIPARKS) FARMERS MARKET, temporarily in the lot at Beechview and Broadway aves., then back to St. Catherine’s Church lot, Broadway Ave. and Belasco St. 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thurs. June 9 through Oct.

BELLEVUE FARMERS MARKET, Hawley Ave. between Lincoln Ave. and Citizen Way. 3 to 7 p.m. Weds. May 25 through Oct.

BETHEL PARK FARMERS MARKET, Bethel Park Community Center Playground, 5151 Park Ave. 3 to 7 p.m. Tues. May 3 to Oct. 18.

BLOOMFIELD (CITIPARKS) FARMERS MARKET, Immaculate Conception school, Cedarville St. and Friendship Ave. 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thurs. May 12 to Nov. 17.

BRIDGEVILLE FARMERS MARKET, 431 Washington Pike (behind Northwest Savings Bank). 4 to 7 p.m. Tues. June 14 into Sept.

BUTLER FARMERS MARKET, at intersection of Chestnut, Race, and Shore sts. 7:30 a.m. to noon Sat. May 7 into late fall (may go all year). Also 2 to 6 p.m. Mon. and Weds. starting in June through fall.

CARRICK (CITIPARKS) FARMERS MARKET, Carrick Shopping Center, 2100 Brownsville Road and Parkfield St. 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wed. June 1 to Nov. 23.

CHARLEROI FARMERS MARKET, Market House in 400 block of McKean Ave. 3 to 6 p.m. Thurs. mid July to mid Oct.

CORAOPOLIS FARMERS MARKET, Presbyterian Church, Broadway St. and Fifth Ave. 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mon. June 6 to Oct. 24.

CRANBERRY FARMERS MARKET, behind municipal building on Rochester Road, 3:30 to 6 p.m. Fri.; lot behind fire station on Mashuda Dr., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. June 10 through Oct.

DERRY: KEYSTONE FARMERS MARKET, 1150 Keystone Park Road off state Route 981. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sun. July 10 through Oct.

DORMONT FARMERS MARKET, tennis courts, Banksville Road at Dormont Ave. 4 to 7 p.m. Mon. June 27 at least through Oct.

DOWNTOWN: (CITIPARKS) CITY-COUNTY BUILDING, 400 Grant St. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fri. May 6 to early Dec.

DOWNTOWN: MARKET SQUARE FARMERS MARKET in the new square, Forbes Ave. and Market Pl. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thurs. May 12 to mid Nov.

DOWNTOWN: STEEL PLAZA FARM STAND, U.S. Steel Tower on Grant St. at Sixth Ave. 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fri. May 6 through at least Sept.

EAST LIBERTY (CITIPARKS) FARMERS MARKET, 5800 Penn Circle West. 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mon. May 9 to Nov. 21.

EAST LIBERTY: FARMERS MARKET COOPERATIVE, 344 N. Sheridan Ave., by Home Depot. 5 a.m. to noon Sat. year-round. farmersmarketcooperativeofeastliberty.com.

EMSWORTH FARMERS MARKET, in the lot at 84 Center Ave. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. May 7 to Oct. 15.

FOREST HILLS FARMERS MARKET, Forest Hills Presbyterian Church lot on Ardmore Blvd. 4 to 7 p.m. Fri. June 3 through Oct.

FOX CHAPEL FARMERS MARKET, at Shady Side Academy, 423 Fox Chapel Road 3 to 6:30 p.m. Weds. June 15 to Oct. 19.

FRAZER FARMERS MARKET, Pittsburgh Mills, JCPenney’s lot. 3 to 7 p.m. Thurs. June 2 through Oct.

GREENSBURG: DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET, 221 N. Main St. at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art. 3 to 6 p.m. Tues. May 10 at least through Oct.

GREENSBURG: FARMERS MARKET AT LYNCH FIELD, at Route 819. 9 a.m. to noon Sat. May 7 into Nov.

GREEN TREE FARMERS MARKET IN THE PARK, Green Tree Park, Greentree Road. 4 to 7 p.m. Thurs. May 19 through Oct. greentreeboro.com.

LATROBE FARMERS MARKET, Memorial Stadium lot, 2 to 6 p.m. Tues. June 7 through Oct.

LIGONIER COUNTRY MARKET, Springer Road and W. Main St. 8 a.m. to noon Sat. May 21 to Oct. 8. ligoniercountrymarket.com.

MARS FARMERS MARKET, 225 Crowe Ave. in Woodland Valley Church lot across from post office. 9 a.m. to noon Sat. May 7 at least through Sept.

MCDONALD TRAIL STATION FARMERS MARKET, on the Panhandle Trail at 160 S. McDonald St. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. July 2 to at least mid Sept.

MONROEVILLE LIONS FARMERS MARKET, Gateway High School. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sat. May 7 to Nov. 19. monroevillefarmersmarket.com.

MONONGAHELA FARMERS MARKET, Chess Park, Main and 7th sts. 3 to 6 p.m. Fri. June 10 to mid Oct.

MT. LEBANON UPTOWN FARMERS MARKET, 600-750 Washington Road. 9 a.m. to noon, Sat. May 14 through Oct. mtlebanonpartnership.org.

MT. LEBANON LIONS FARMERS MARKET, United Lutheran Church lot, 975 Washington Road. 4 to 7 p.m. Weds. June 1 to Oct. 19. mtlebanonlionsfarmersmarket.com.

MOUNT PLEASANT FARMERS MARKET, lot behind Levin furniture at Smithfield and St. Clair sts. 2 to 6 p.m. Weds. June 29 to Oct. 19.

NEW BRIGHTON FARMERS MARKET, lot at 5th Ave. and 12th St. 4 to 7 p.m. Tues. June 21 through Oct.

NEW STANTON TURNPIKE PLAZA FARMERS MARKET, Pennsylvania Turnpike West Mile 77.6. Dawn to dusk daily. Around Memorial Day through Nov.

NORTH HUNTINGDON: FARM MARKET ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL WESTMORELAND AT TEDDY’S RESTAURANT, 8695 Route 30. 8 a.m. to noon Sat. Probably June to Oct. (opening date not yet set).

NORTH SIDE (CITIPARKS) FARMERS MARKET, E. Ohio St. and Cedar Ave. across from Allegheny General Hospital. 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Fri. May 13 to Nov. 18.

OAKLAND: FARMERS AT PHIPPS, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens lawn at Schenley Dr. 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Weds. June 1 through Oct. Certified organic and naturally grown produce.

OAKLAND FARMERS MARKET, Sennot St. between Atwood St. and Meyran Ave. Noon to 5 p.m. Fri. July 8 to Nov. 18.

OLDE TOWN GROVE CITY FARMERS MARKET, in Festival Park lot between 118 and 138 S. Broad St. 3 to 6 p.m. Thurs. June 2 through Oct.

PLEASANT HILLS FARMERS MARKET, Pleasant Hills Presbyterian Church, Caryl Drive lot. 3:30 to 7 p.m. Thurs. May 19 to Oct. 13. “Music in the Markets” on 1st and 3rd Thurs. June 2 to Oct. 6.

SARVER: BUFFALO CHURCH FARMERS MARKET, 678 Sarver Road. 9 a.m. to noon Sat. July 9 through Oct.

SCOTT FARMERS MARKET, Scott Park on Lindsay Road. 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mon. June 6 through Aug.

SEWICKLEY: ST. JAMES FARMERS MARKET, St. James Parish lot, 200 Walnut St. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. April to Nov. 19.

SLIPPERY ROCK FARMERS MARKET, starting in a new location at the Macoskey Center, 247 Harmony Road, before moving in July to Rock Falls Park, Route 173. 9 a.m. to noon Sat. May 28 into Oct.

SOUTH FAYETTE/CECIL: ORIGINAL FARMERS NIGHT MARKET, Route 50, 5 miles west of Bridgeville exit of Interstate 79, at Route 978. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Fri. in May; 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Mon., Wed. and Fri. June through Oct.; 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mon., Wed., Fri. in Nov.

SOUTH SIDE (CITIPARKS) FARMERS MARKET, new lot at Sidney and 20th sts., 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tues. May 10 to Nov. 22.

STRIP DISTRICT: FARMERS@FIREHOUSE, 2216 Penn Ave. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sat. May 7 to Nov. 19. Mostly organic and naturally grown produce, local meat and poultry. Chef demos weekly. Sponsored by Slow Food Pittsburgh.

STRIP DISTRICT: PITTSBURGH PUBLIC MARKET, 2100 Smallman St. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun. year-round. pittsburghpublicmarket.org.

TARENTUM FARMERS MARKET, First United Presbyterian Church lot at E. 10th Ave. and Lock St. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Weds. June 15 through Oct.

UPPER ST. CLAIR FARMERS MARKET, in the lot at Westminster Presbyterian Church at 2040 Washington Road (Route 19). 4 to 7 p.m. Thurs. June 2 through Sept.

VANDERGRIFT FARMERS MARKET, on Columbia Ave. between Sherman and Grant aves. 3 to 6:30 p.m. Thurs. June 16 to Oct. 13. vandergriftfarmersmarket.weebly.com.

VERONA FARMERS MARKET, 736 E. Railroad Ave. 2 to 6 p.m. Thurs. June 16 to Oct. 13.

WASHINGTON: MAIN STREET FARMERS MARKET, municipal lot at 139 S. Main St. 3 to 6 p.m. Thurs. May 12 through Oct. msfm.org.

WASHINGTON: WASHINGTON CROWN CENTER FARMERS MARKET, 1500 W. Chestnut St. Noon to 8 p.m. or sellout Mon. through Sat., noon to 5 p.m. or sellout Sun. July 1 through Sept.

WEST VIEW FARMERS MARKET, 456 Perry Highway behind West View Savings Bank. 4 to 7 p.m. Tues. May 3 through Oct.

WHITEHALL FARMERS MARKET, at Caste Village Shopping Center at Baptist and Grove roads. 3 to 7 p.m. Mon. June 6 to Oct. 24.

WILKINSBURG FARMERS MARKET, behind the South Avenue Methodist Church, 733 South Ave. 3 to 6 p.m. Thurs. June 16 to Nov. 17.

More information on days and times can be found on-line. Additionally you can visit http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/parks/farmers_market.htm to find more on City of Pittsburgh sponsored markets.

Chelsey Hennemuth is a graduate student in the Journalism and Multimedia Arts Department at Duquesne University. She received her B.A. in Graphic Design from St. Vincent College.

With special thanks to Mary Miller for contributing to this article.