In life, timing is of the essence. This is especially true with farmers' markets, as those who arrive early are rewarded in many ways. In some cases, it's all about optimal parking—those market bags get heavier as the season progresses. Arriving early also means the ability to glimpse—and purchase—the initial harvests of an eagerly awaited item, such as tomatoes, or an experimental item that's new for a farmer that year, such as Brussels sprouts.
Easton Farmers' Market
Easton Farmers' Market is the mothership of markets in the Lehigh Valley. Dating to 1752, it's also the nation's oldest, continuously operating, open-air farmers' market. And it happens to be located in our proverbial backyard, Centre Square in Downtown Easton.
Easton's known as a producer/grower-only market, which greatly encourages dialogue and education among customers and farmers, cheesemongers, soap makers and so forth. Want great, chemical-free and/or organic produce? They've got vendors for that. There's meat purveyors such as Breakaway Farms (a supplier to many restaurants in the Valley) who go “beyond organic.” Oh, and what about farm-grown kombucha and oodles of pickles and high-quality orchard fruits? Yep, all that's available, too. Spirits from a distiller with its own locally grown grains? That's covered, along with activities for kids, live music and good old-fashioned camaraderie.
Insider Tip: After the farmers' market, head indoors to the Easton Public Market for more local produce and prepared foods.
May–Dec.: Sat. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | Centre Square, Easton | 610.330.9942 | eastonfarmersmarket.com
Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market
An entirely different beast altogether, this indoor market feels more like the old-fashioned sprawling marts of my youth, where one is bound to encounter fruits and veggies, but also random things such as vacuum-repair salespeople, candy peddlers and someone's AVON® shop. Market enthusiasts know to hit up longtime mainstays such as Wittman's World Cheeses, Mr. Bill's Poultry and Heckenberger's Seafood.
Still, in the past few years, market owners and managers Dan and Laurie Wuchter have made strides to increasingly modernize, diversify and localize its offerings: see Hardball Cider, Eight Oaks Craft Distillery and Stark Juice. Patrons will also find some wildly popular, specialty food vendors such as Loan's Vietnamese Bistro, a sushi stand, and Polish, Mediterranean and Mexican food vendors. It's a smorgasbord.
Insider Tip: Market diehards shop on Saturdays from 4–6 p.m., when vendors reduce prices on their inventory. It's great for bargain hunters!
Thurs.: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Fri. 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sat.: 8 a.m.–6 p.m. | 1825 W. Chew St., Allentown
610.432.8425 | allentownfarmersmarket.com
Saucon Valley Farmers' Market
With nearly 50 vendors, the Saucon Valley market offers a variety of goods in a laid-back setting on Water Street Park in Hellertown.
It began about 12 years ago and feels like the market for those with a sweet tooth, as there are quite a few vendors offering cupcakes, sticky buns, whoopie pies, cookies and scones, along with specialty items such as savory pasties from Tombler's Bakery. For a hearty artisan bread, don't miss the flavorful loaves from Wayfare Baker.
Seasonal, chemical-free produce is available from at least three vendors, including Epic Acre, which also produces killer hot sauces from its peppers and can be counted on for myriad varieties of heirloom tomatoes. Farmers' market staples are always available—local honey, eggs and fresh-cut flowers, along with lavender products, soaps and cheeses from Flint Hill Farm. Stop by for breakfast—there's even an omelet maker!
Because this market is located in a park, there's ample free parking available, along with public restrooms, a playground and a walking trail on site.
Insider Tip: Every fourth Sunday, the market brings in craft vendors.
May–Nov.: Sun. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. | Water Street Park | 90 W. Water St., Hellertown | 610.838.9307 | sauconvalleyfarmersmarket.com
Elias Market
For more than 25 years, Elias has been known in the Valley for its wide variety of inexpensively priced produce, including some really hard-to-find items and many, many starchy root veggies from the Caribbean, including eddo and yautia. It's not every day one can find figs, aloe vera, dragon fruit, green chickpeas and the pungent herb recao—an ingredient that goes into sofrito—all under one roof.
Elias also stocks its market with an array of international food items from places such as Syria, Romania, Germany, Italy and so forth—don't miss the array of fresh feta, for example, among many other standard deli items and meats. (There are many halal items, too.) Purchase local foods such as pierogies from Black Forest Deli.
Seasonally, Elias also offers lots of garden and nursery items—think flowers as far as the eye can see, and, during the holidays, even Christmas trees.
Insider Tip: If you are looking to do some canning inexpensively, Elias stocks loads of seasonal fruit. They also own a smaller location in Allentown.
Mon.–Sat.: 7 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun. 7 a.m.–6 p.m. | 3131 Linden St., Bethlehem | 610.867.8111 | eliasmarket.com
The Farm Market at NCC
This is the little market that could; it's smaller than the rest, but mighty. Market vendor Donna Middlebrook of Jett's Produce in Telford calls it “the best little market with a big heart.”
Thanks to the Farm Market's location, it easily catches students, faculty and employees of the college, and in the summertime, folks picking their kids up from the college's Horizons for Youth day camp programming. However, this market is open a whopping 50 weeks out of the year, closing only during Christmas week and the week after. The market moves completely inside in Laub Lounge from November to mid-April.
What distinguishes the Farm Market at NCC (which used to be called SlowMarket Place) is its educational component. Students and faculty collaborate on their own gardens, and sell items such as greens, potatoes, herbs, raspberries, garlic, squash, flowers and more, throughout the season. The garden even has its own beehives and sells its own honey.
Insider Tip: Come early for the best selection, especially at the Flour Shop and Jett's Produce.
Wed.: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | 3835 Green Pond Rd., Bethlehem | facebook.com
