Winter farmers market a hit in Washington
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Vendors show off their products to potential customers at the winter farm market inside the Marketplace at Emerald Valley in Washington
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Vendors show off their products to potential customers at the winter farm market inside the Marketplace at Emerald Valley in Washington
People who miss Washington’s summer farmers market got a taste of it Saturday during a winter market at the Marketplace a Emerald Valley on Main Street.
Owner Alisa Fasnacht hosted 12 vendors at her store from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Customers kept the place busy, she said.
“Everyone’s stir crazy right now,” she said. “People want any reason to look forward to spring, and the farm market kind of signifies that.”
Most of the vendors participate in the summer market as well, like Aunt Kimmies Homemade Jams, Jellies and Relishes, J&D Winery, and Rivendale Farm. Though there wasn’t a lot of produce options, there was quite a mouth-watering spread of pasta, cheese, wine, meats, bread, jams and pickles.
When Fasnacht reached out to the vendors about a winter market opportunity, they thought it was a great idea.
“It’s been comparable to the summer market,” said Jodi Borello, of South Franklin Township.
Borello, who sells flavored pasta through her company Mia Cucina, said she even had customers from Pittsburgh come down for the market.
“A lot of the people who came through today were really excited about this,” she said.
A few of the vendors even sold out of the goods they brought, like Deanna Bartelme with Wood Street Bread in Wilkensburg. She brought several racks of freshly baked bread and sold out of it before 2 p.m.
“I knew they would do a lot of advertising for this and that it would be a good turnout,” she said.
Fasnacht said many customers who stopped in Saturday shared they miss having a market throughout the winter.
“I’m hopeful that people get to connect,” Fasnacht said. “I miss the energy that comes with the market. At the end of the day, this has got to be about the community.”
Fasnacht said she plans to have another winter market day in March and again in April, since it did so well Saturday. She may even make it weekly, depending on how popular the idea is with customers.
“We’re seeing a lot of new faces today,” she said Saturday. “We’re the region’s only fully integrated farm-to-table setting. And it’s not just about the products, it’s about the farm-to-table lifestyle.”