Visit Our New Website! 2021

We are excited to announce that we have a new website!

Please visit https://indianafarmmarket.org to learn about the 2021 market season and beyond.

> Visit New Farmers' Market Website <

Open Through October 31st!

 

The Indiana County Farmers' Market will be open through Saturday October 31st!

Come out to get your favorite fall goods before the Saturday market concludes for the season.

ALSO be sure to connect with your farmers to learn about drop-off and pick-up opportunities to enjoy their products all winter long.

One More Month of Wednesday Markets

This time of year is bittersweet. With just 5 Wednesday Evening Markets remaining, we are looking back on what may be called the most unique market season of our lifetimes. As the seasons change, produce availability changes too. We have always wrapped up the Wednesday Evening market a few weeks before the Saturday Market closes for the season to reflect our farmers' availability.

The final Wednesday Evening Market will take place on Wednesday October 7th, and the Saturday Markets will continue through Saturday October 31st.

We hope you enjoy the convenience of the mid-week market and look forward to seeing you over the next several Wednesdays for your weekday shopping! 

Martin's Groceries Donates $1000 for Foodbucks

The Indiana County Farmers' Market Foodbucks Program allows SNAP users to double their dollars towards fresh produce, providing greater access to healthy local food for people facing food insecurity. 

It is with great appreciation that we say, "Thank you!" to Martin's Groceries of Indiana, PA for their generous $1000 donation towards our Foodbucks Program. We are so pleased that their team members chose our Farmers' Market for this donation. The Farmers' Market is dedicated to feeding our neighbors and so is Martin's. 

When you're looking for those grocery items that we do not have at the market, be sure to stop by Martin's on Oakland Ave to see their great offerings.

Thank you for your donation, Martin's!

Welcome New Vendors

Welcoming Our New Vendors

We are pleased to welcome new vendors Williams Family Farm, LLC and Stony Brook Herbal Gardens to the Indiana County Farmers' Market. They have taken a leap of faith in joining the market during the pandemic, which speaks volumes about the great reputation of the Indiana County Farmer's Market.

Williams Family Farm, LLC, located in Indiana, PA, offers pork products. Visit farmer Jordan Williams at the market to learn more about their offerings!

Stony Brook Herbal Gardens offers microgreens as well as herbal products such as tinctures and teas for your wellness. Ask them about their growing process and herbal goods!

Thank you to all of our vendors for continuing to have a presence at the Indiana County Farmers' Market while we face unprecedented times in our country and community.

Foodbucks Program

ICFM Foodbucks Program

Foodbucks are an incentive for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to shop the market. For each dollar in tokens you receive from swiping your EBT card, you increase your buying power by receiving an additional dollar in Foodbucks! We want to help make fresh, local foods more accessible to everyone.

How to get Foodbucks:

1. Stop by the market info booth and swipe your EBT card for the amount of your choosing.
2. Receive tokens in $0.50 increments for the amount you requested
3. Receive Foodbucks equal to the amount you got in tokens - DOUBLING your market dollars!
4. Shop at participating vendors and enjoy the freshest local produce around!
5. Tokens do not expire. If you do not spend your market money, you can use it next week, next month, or even next season

Notes for users:

• SNAP customers may not receive change from vendors when using tokens.  SNAP tokens may only be used to purchase food items that fit requirements of the SNAP program (i.e. fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, vegetable plant starts, etc.)
• Cards will be accepted at Saturday morning markets ONLY, however tokens can be spent on both Wednesdays and Saturdays with participating vendors.
• Participating vendors will post a sign in their booths stating that they accept market tokens. A list of participating vendors is also available at the Market Information booth.

Contact us with any questions at indianafarmmarket@gmail.com

Learn more about SNAP and how to apply >

Recipe: Summer Pasta from Mother Earth Farm PA

Courtesy of Mother Earth Farm PA

One of our vendors Mother Earth Farm PA prioritizes growing methods that are good for the soil and good for the consumer. These farmers not only enjoy nurturing food and animals to create healthy food, they also enjoy cooking.

Summer Lemony Pasta With Sugar Snaps, Squash And Herbs. That's the name of Mother Earth Farm PA's recipe. You can just imagine the flavors! Or, you could pick up some fresh ingredients at the Farmers' Market and fix yourself a delicious meal.

Here are the ingredients:
Ingredients: 1 box penne (or similar) whole wheat noodles, 2 c. sugar snap peas, 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice, 2 t. lemon zest, 1/2 t. salt, 3 T EVOO, 1/4 c. chopped fresh herbs (basil, parsley, mint, etc…), 1 summer squash, shaved parmesan.

Click here to read their blog for cooking instructions >

Recipe: Simple Cooked Greens

Greens are one of the most regularly available produce items because their growing season is so long, beginning in the early spring and continuing through the fall. The greens that we're talking about are vegetables such as: beet greens, chard, turnip greens, kale, and collards.

There are just two ingredients you truly need to cook up your greens:

• Fat (butter, olive oil, coconut oil), usually a couple of tablespoons
• Salt to taste

And some optional items to make your greens extra tasty:

• Broth or Stock (chicken or vegetable)
• Onion
• Apple cider vinegar

The best thing about this recipe is that it is flexible. Use the amount of fat, salt, broth, onion, and vinegar to your liking and based on how many leafy greens you are cooking. 

Step 1:

Bring a pot of water to a boil.

Step 2:

Remove greens from their stems and tear into pieces. Wash greens, then place into the pot of boiling water. Cook long enough to wilt the greens. Some greens take longer than others, which you can determine by their toughness when raw.

Step 3:

Strain greens in a colander, pressing out the water. If using onion and broth, skip to Step 4. Otherwise, place the hot greens in a serving dish and toss with butter or other fat and season with salt to taste. Throw in a dash of apple cider vinegar for some extra flavor. 

If using onions and broth

Step 4:

Chop onion. Heat fat over medium heat, add chopped onion and cook until soft. Add cooked greens and coat with oil and onion mixture. If using broth, add liquid to the pan to the depth of about 1/3 of the greens and simmer to allow greens to soak up the flavor. Salt to taste, and your greens are ready.

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Recipe: A Dose of Bitter feat. Escarole

By Stanley Chepaitis of Uncle Henry's Garden

About Escarole

Escarole is a member of the chicory family, closely related to Endive and Radicchio. Like all the chicories it has a touch of bracing bitterness, but it is the least bitter green of this family and the one that mellows most with cooking. Mature Escarole looks like a large wheel of frilly green leaves with a white center or "heart". While its bitterness might be a little off putting for raw eating, it mellows considerably when cooked.

The bitter component of escarole is actually very healthy in that it aids in cleansing the liver and stimulates bile production for better digestion. This is why it used to be common to take a dose of "Bitters" or a bitter liqueur following a large meal.

Most of the bitter flavors common in our diets have been bred out (think of iceberg lettuce) or covered over with sugar (coffee and chocolate being two prime examples of this).

Bitter foods and herbs used to be highly prized in many cultures the world over, but today we tend to avoid them. Escarole, in the recipes that follow is a highly enjoyable way to get some bitter back into your diet.

Squirrel Soup (Zuppa di Scarole)

Back in the early 1960's, one of my cousins on my Lithuanian side took a job working a night shift in a factory. His route to work took him close by the Campilli House in Wappingers Falls. When Grandma Campilli found this out she called my mother and said, of course, "When's he gonna eat, he can't work all night if he doesn't eat something!"

It was agreed that he would go a little early and stop on his way. He did this once and didn't have to be coaxed again. On one occasion, she served him "Zuppa di Scarole". He immediately pronounced it to be the best Squirrel Soup he had ever tasted and he repeated his story of the squirrel soup to anyone who would listen.

I don't think we ever succeeded in convincing him that there were no squirrels in that soup. Nonna just smiled when he raved about it and never corrected him. Either she didn't understand what he meant, or she thought it was funny; or maybe she really did put a squirrel in his soup. We never found out.

Recipe:

One large head escarole

Three quarts broth
One onion
One Carrot

One rib celery
One egg beaten with a quarter cup parmesan cheese
Juice from half a lemon

Two tablespoons olive oil

Due to its layers of growth, a head of escarole can hide some hidden pockets of soil.

1. Wash the escarole in several changes of cold water until the water shows no traces of soil. Shake out the water and chop the escarole roughly.

2. Chop the onion, carrot and celery into a fine Battuto, then sauté them in the olive oil right in your soup pot.

3. In a separate sauce pan, have the broth simmering and add it to the pot.

4. Add in the escarole and simmer the soup for a half hour or so until the escarole has cooked down.

5. Add the lemon juice. This is important as sour (acidity) and bitter flavors seem to make each other more palatable and interesting.

6. Finally, just before serving, whisk in the beaten egg and parmesan, breaking it up just as it hits the hot water so it forms thin threads that spread throughout the soup.

As with any soup, escarole soup improves as it sits so make it an hour or several ahead of time and warm it up before serving.

If you add little meatballs and the tiny pasta called pastina to escarole soup, you will have a version of the popular "Italian Wedding Soup".

Thank You Customers!

Thank you to our customers who have joined as at our Saturday Markets and Wednesday Evening Markets so far! Summer is just getting started and we will continue to bring you fresh food through October. Without your support, our small farms wouldn't exist. Thank you for helping us continue to provide healthy food to our community!

We also greatly appreciate how thoughtful everyone has been about following our health & safety recommendations. Keeping our farmers and neighbors healthy is an important part of maintaining a strong local food system.

Here are some pictures of our customers on our opening day. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see more!

Fresh Produce Vouchers: WIC & Seniors

The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provide WIC recipients and low income seniors with fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from approved farmers' in Pennsylvania. 

Call Indiana County's Aging Services, Inc. agency at (724) 349 4500 to learn more about getting your fresh produce voucher which are available on a first come first serve basis. 

Use your FMNP check at the Indiana County Farmers' Market with our participating vendors.

Recipe: Salad Dressings

There are two keys to a great salad: 1. fresh produce and 2. great dressing.

Try making these salad dressings at home and store them in the fridge for up to two weeks. They can be paired with your favorite in-season vegetables from the farmers' market. A couple of these recipes include the use of honey which can also be purchased at our farmers' market.

Instructions for each recipe are the same: beat the ingredients together until well-mixed, or place in a jar and shake until emulsified. Then salt and pepper to taste, shaking again to mix.

Basic Salad Dressing
1 tsp brown mustard
2 1/2 Tbsp wine vinegar (white or red)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
*Add fresh herbs such as basil or thyme to this recipe for an herby flavor

Honey Lemon Dressing
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup lemon juice (approx. 3 lemons if using fresh)
1 Tbsp honey or more to taste

Toasted Sesame Dressing
2 tsp sesame oil
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp soy sauce
4 Tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp freshly grated ginger
2 tsp green onions chopped finely
1 tsp honey

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Pre-Order Information

Some of our vendors are offering pre-ordering for your convenience. Take advantage of these pre-order options to help with market safety measures and get access to the products you want.

Huber’s 3 Ponds Farm

• Visit facebook.com/3pondsfarm to find the latest product
• Email huber7766@gmail.com to place a pre-order

Mahoning Creek Farm

• Subscribe for weekly inventory updates by visiting this URL http://eepurl.com/gNkjbP
• OR email sales@mahoningcreekfarm.com or phone 724-541-5717

Maple Ridge Farm & Bakery

• Order & pay online at our website mapleridgefarm.net.
• Order by 11am Tuesday for Wednesday afternoon pick-up and by 11am Friday for Saturday morning pick-up.

Mother Earth Farm PA

• Visit motherearthfarmpa.com/farmers-market-1 to see what products will be available at market each week
• Email motherearthfarmpa@gmail.com by noon on the Friday prior to the Saturday market to pre-order

Our vendors who are unable to offer pre-ordering will still be at the market offering a wide variety of products, so be sure to visit them when you're picking up your order.

2020 Market Maps

We have established numerous guidelines to help keep the market safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. One of those efforts is to help with way-finding at the market, and introduce one-way foot traffic at the Saturday Market. Please use the maps below for your convenience.

Learn more about the vendors on our maps by visiting our vendor page.

Saturday Market Map

Customers are welcome to loop around the market multiple times. As soon as you exit, you may re-enter.

Wednesday Evening Market Map

Health & Safety at the Market: COVID-19 Guidelines

Pennsylvania's farmers' markets are categorized as essential businesses and are allowed to operate throughout the pandemic while following certain protocols. In order to remain operational, the Indiana County Farmers' Market must implement safety requirements for both vendors and the public.

Keeping our farms and communities safe and healthy is greatly important to us. We want to continue to provide customers access to the local food system as well as keep our small farms in business by shifting operations to maintain a healthy shopping experience.

We need your help to keep the market a safe place. Please review our customer requirements in preparation for our opening days, June 6th and June 10th.

Customer Guidelines

We ask market customers to please adhere to the following state and CDC guidelines:

1. Mask or face covering recommended
2. One person at market per household only (unless necessary e.g. childcare) 
3. Keep a 6-foot distance at all times
4. Do not touch products, ask vendor for assistance
5. Leave pets at home
6. If you are sick or around anyone who is sick, please do not enter the market
7. No eating in the market area

Please note that due to the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, requirements are subject to change.

Tips & Notes:

• Pre-orders & pre-pay are available and are encouraged
• Please bring your own pen to sign checks
• BYObag is ok, but vendors will not touch your bags
• Look for the designated entrance at the market
• Please do not enter the market area before market begins

We thank you for your support and help in keeping everyone safe!

Read on to learn more about our market and vendor safety measures.

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Market & Vendor Practices

The Indiana County Farmers' Market and our vendors will be implementing regular hand and surface sanitization, different money-handling and product-handling practices, mask wearing, pre-bagging, pre-selling, and more safety measures.

A few of the things you may notice the most are:

1. Use disposable paper tokens rather than reusable for credit/debit/EBT
2. One-way foot traffic at the market
3. No chef demos, musicians, or special events––discouraging gathering
4. No tasting or touching products

We are saddened that this will change the market experience that we all know and love, but adapting to the current situation is necessary for a brighter future. We must practice safety to protect our community and ensure a steady supply of healthy, local food.

Thank you again for supporting a safe market for our friends and farmers!

Take a socially-distanced Farm Tour

Do you know where your food comes from?

Every Wednesday and Saturday, Farmers' Market customers have the opportunity to ask farmers questions about growing methods or animal care, and learn about the positive environmental impacts their farmers are having on their land. Now, some of our vendors are welcoming the community to get to know them and their farms even more by offering tours.

This season, several Indiana County farms will be hosting on-farm tours to give you a glimpse of their operations!

Each farm tour is FREE and will take place on a separate date. Please reach out to each farm directly to learn more about their tour.

These farmers look forward to seeing you on their farms!

In consideration of Covid-19 farms will be following social distancing protocols during tours. Please contact each farm for tour details.

Farm Tour Dates & Contact

Nature Works Farm - May 3rd @ 2pm
3741 Rt 56 Hwy E Homer City, PA 15748
Vendor Page  |  info@natureworksfarm.com

Fat Radish Farm - June 7th @ 5pm
5021 Purchase Line Rd, Commodore, PA 15729
Vendor Page  |  fatradishfarmpa@gmail.com

Mother Earth Farm, July 26th @ 5pm
4420 Warren Rd, Indiana, PA 15701
Vendor Page  |  motherearthfarmpa@gmail.com

Mahoning Creek Farm, August 22nd @2pm
6278 Route 210 Hwy, Smicksburg, PA 16256
Vendor Page  |  sales@mahoningcreekfarm.com

A message from MCF regarding cancellation: Please note this Spring we made plans to have a farm tour next weekend. However, due to the continued COVID public health concerns and the extreme heat and dry weather we will not be having the farm tour. Heat is not only stressful on field crops but also on animals. We need to spend our time ensuring our animals are well cared for. We believe 2021 will be a better time for a tour. 

***In consideration of Covid-19 farms will be following social distancing protocols during tours. This event is organized external to the Indiana County Farmers' Market, so participants are encouraged to reach out directly to each farm for more information.***

Food Access Resources for Indiana County

With heightened food insecurity due to the coronavirus pandemic, there is a growing need for food assistance in our community. Prior to the pandemic, many Indiana County residents were already suffering from food insecurity and we are concerned about everyone who is struggling.

Below are some resources to help you and your family access food during this time. If you are aware of additional resources, please let us know so that we can update this list:

Indiana County Community Assistance Program (ICCAP)
Food pantry opportunities
Contact: Aimee Kemp (724) 463-7440

Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank (serving Indiana County and additional areas)
Call this number to get help applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): 833-822-7627
Find more resources on their website

PA 2-1-1
Dial 2-1-1
Find Covid-19 resources
View the food distribution map and scroll East to view Indiana County

Food 911 - Indiana County Facebook Group
This Facebook group is a place to share and find information regarding food assistance in Indiana County

ICFM Foodbucks (beginning in June)
The Indiana County Farmers' Market will continue to offer our Foodbucks program which matches SNAP dollars used at the market to make your benefits go further. Foodbucks may be 'purchased' during Saturday markets and used during both the Saturday and Wednesday markets.

Again, please reach out if there are local food assistance resources missing from this page so that we may update it. Please email us a indianafarmmarket@gmail.com

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For those of you who are struggling to find what you need in the supermarket, be sure to get in touch with our vendors. Some farmers are offering safe, sanitary pick-up options to provide access to food without exposure to the grocery store. Visit Our Vendor Page >

New Seasonal Produce Chart

The Indiana County Farmers' Market and vendors have been preparing for the market season and dreaming of all that this year's many markets will have to offer. We can't wait to enjoy our farmers' goods, and we hope you feel the same way.

The Indiana County Farmers' Market, open Wednesdays and Saturdays June–October, offers products beyond produce including: soaps, baked goods, dairy, meat, eggs, fermented foods, flour, flowers, and more!

While many items are available on a regular basis, seasonal items and produce are one of the things that make the market a special place. Want to know what produce is in season?:

Explore our seasonal produce chart below!

Use this chart throughout the market season so help you plan your meals and know when your favorite fruit and vegetables are likely to be available. Plus, when something you like is not yet in season, ask your farmer about trying something new.

What's your favorite fresh fruit or vegetable to eat? Can you find it on our chart? If not, let us know. In addition to this chart, we will aim to tell you when certain items will be available on a weekly basis.

If you're having trouble viewing the chart, you may click here to open a PDF for printing.

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Get the latest on the Indiana County Farmers' Market including upcoming market offerings.

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2020 Market Season & COVID-19

The Indiana County Farmers’ Market is closely following Centers for Disease Control and Pennsylvania guidelines regarding the COVID-19 disease. We want you to know that we plan to proceed with opening this year’s markets as scheduled with the market operating June through October.

Our opening days will be:

• Saturday, June 6th, 2020: 9AM - 12PM @ 8th & Church Streets
• Wednesday, June 10th, 2020: 3:30PM - 6PM @ Wayne Ave across from KCAC

Now, possibly more than ever before, it is vital that we connect community members with healthy food and the local food system. Many people in the greater Indiana area already suffer from food insecurity, and now that may be a new reality for additional community members.

We believe that local agriculture is essential to ensuring the wellness of our area’s residents.

The board members and volunteers of Indiana County Farmers’ Market have been discussing the potential effects of COVID-19 on the upcoming market season as well as the measures we should take to keep our customers and farmers safe. Our vendors have long practiced safe handling of food per Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Food Safety guidelines and will continue to do so. We are also discussing additional measures that vendors and the market can take to keep everyone healthy.

If you are seeking to connect with local food before the Farmers’ Market begins, you may find the list of our vendors on our website to connect directly with them. A number of our vendors have products available right now and are creating safe ways to get food to you.

As this is an ever-evolving situation, we will be sure to update you as we learn more about the status of the Indiana County Farmers’ Market.

Thank you for supporting our local farmers and for being a customer of the Farmers’ Market. We hope that you are staying safe and well.

Thank You!

One final post for the season to say a BIG thank you to all of our amazing vendors, customers, volunteers, and supporters!  Our market wouldn't be here without all of you, and we are so thankful to have support for a local farmer's market here in Indiana.

Remember, many of your favorite vendors have products available in the off-season.  Check out our vendor pages to connect with them!

Be the first to get all the market scoop next spring!  

Like and Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @indianafarmmarket

Subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter

See you next year!