Easton Farmers Market Returns for 261st Season

The oldest continuous open air farmers' market in the U.S. will kick off its 261st year next Saturday, May 4 at 9 a.m. on Easton's Centre Square with seven new vendors and featuring a total of thirty-four farmers, food purveyors and crafters.

The market’s opening day ceremony will highlight Easton Farmers' Market (EFM) farming families and celebrate a  new generation of young, passionate farmers who are dedicated to being good stewards of the environment and to growing healthy, chemical-free food. "So God Made a Farmer," the  poem made famous by radio personality Paul Harvey, as well as speeches by Mayor Sal Panto and PA State Representative Robert Freeman, along with a ribbon cutting by a representative from St. Luke’s University Health Network, the EFM's new major sponsor, will all be part of the event.

The opening day festivities also include a tie-in with National Herb Day, which is also on May 4.  The Northern NJ Chapter of the American Herbalist Guild will be present,  selling herb plants and answering herb-related questions. Additionally, local herbalist David Harder will offer advice on growing herbs and using them in cooking and healing.

Chef Abe Lopez of Valenca restaurant will demonstrate how to cook a fresh seasonal dish incorporating spring produce and pasture-raised pork provided by EFM vendors, and registered dietician Debbie Cooper will discuss the nutritional benefits of the ingredients and offer healthy eating and cooking tips. 

The opening day event will also feature live music, free market bags for the first 61 customers and a drawing to win four tickets to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs game for that evening.

The EFM will also be expanding this year, with the launch of its new evening market on Wednesday, June 5.

The new Wednesday market, sponsored by Easton's Weyerbacher Brewing Company and dubbed  "Weyerbacher Wednesdays", will run 4 to 8 p.m. every week through Sept. 25.

Twenty vendors will sell at the new Wednesday market,

"This new market was created to serve the downtown’s burgeoning residential and office population. Young professionals are seeking more access to fresh, locally-produced food,  and we’re excited to be able to offer it to them," said EFM Manager Megan McBride in a media release. "The market will provide a full-service shopping experience with seasonal produce, pasture-raised meat, raw milk, yogurt and cheese, artisan bread and baked goods and prepared foods for quick weeknight meals."

For more information about the Easton Farmers' Market and other related upcoming events, visit www.eastonfarmersmarket.com