You can also find live music at the Pottstown FARM market. (Pottstown FARM / Submitted photo)
Just because Labor Day has passed doesn’t mean the Pottstown FARM — Farm & Regional Artisan Market — is over. In fact, it is buzzing with fall fun for the whole family in addition to being an easy destination for healthy and locally-grown autumn vegetables, apple cider and pumpkin bread.
Held every other Saturday through the end of October, there are three market days left before the season ends, so be sure to mark Sept. 30, Oct. 14, and Oct. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on your calendar.
“October is filled with some really cool things for the kids and the families,” said Sheila Dugan, founder of the market held at Smith Family Plaza. “There are a lot of the fall breads and pumpkin and the spice and all of those types of things start to come out.”
Vegetables you can expect to find at the market this fall are great for soups and roasting.
“You will start seeing more pumpkins and squash and less of the tomatoes,” Dugan said.
Popular shopping time
Ever since school started, Dugan has seen a shift in the most popular shopping time.
“We tend to be busier later in the day, after kids’ sports and things like that,” she said. “Vendors are saying the amount of people and sales are good.”
The market’s baker, A Little Irish Luck, recently started making focaccia bread and baguettes.
“I’ve been wanting a baker here for a long time, so that’s exciting,” Dugan said.
Another vendor, Bread and Brews, is making pumpkin and apple sweet breads.
“As the weather cools off they will also have hot chocolate,” she said.
Apple cider
If you’re craving apple cider, Rosedell Farm will have you covered. They also offer apples along with another vendor, Limerick Homegrown Produce.
Activities at the market include Penn State Extension Master Gardeners who will be at the market on Sept. 30 to answer any of your fall gardening and growing questions.
“That day we’ll also have live music with Mike Mullen who will be performing with us at the next three markets,” Dugan said, of the acoustic musician who performs classic rock, contemporary rock and classic country music.
Pottstown Community Arts will be bringing fall-themed arts and crafts to the market on Oct. 15. On Oct. 28 the market will be celebrating local first responders for National First Responders Day.
“We’ll have firemen and policemen there talking to the kids,” she said.
Halloween event
Also, Oct. 28 is the market’s Halloween event.
“We’ll have a photo booth for the kids, candy, treats and costume contest,” Dugan said, adding they will also have a pumpkin-carving contest going on between their vendors where the public votes on their favorite one.
Despite the market being on the verge of taking a break, Dugan will continue to have her focus on the distant future.
“I thought I’d be working just during the season and learned quickly that’s not the case,” she said. “Now we start writing grants and getting ready for next year already.”
Something to look forward to in November when the market is on a break is a special event Dugan organizes for Small Business Saturday held on Nov. 25.
“Many of the vendors will come back and other small businesses will be a part of that after Thanksgiving,” she said. “We’ll have Santa there and it’s a time to shop local and small and get ready for the holidays.”
Pottstown’s farm and regional market has three shopping days left for you to get locally-grown, fresh produce, specialty foods, and unique crafts. Final market days for the season to mark on your calendar for Sept. 30, Oct. 14, and Oct. 28. For more information, visit Pottstown FARM, 100 E. High St., Pottstown (Smith Family Plaza) www.pottstownfarm.org
