Welcome! Now in its second season as the united voice for the producer-only farmers' markets of Centre County, Central Pennsylvania Farmers is pleased to announce many improvements. First, and most importantly, we've gone from being your resource on only the State College markets to representing all of the county's markets! We're very excited to announce that we now represent all of the following markets: 

• Boalsburg Farmers' Market
  
• Bellefonte Farmers' Market
• Lemont Farmers' Market (which is brand new this season!) 
• Millheim Farmers' Market 
• Old Gregg School Farmers' Market (winters only)
• North Atherton Farmers' Market
• Downtown State College Farmers' Market
• Tuesday Downtown State College Farmers' Market

Secondly, we have a new and improved webpage! Keep an eye on it for contest announcements, news, and other fun stuff, and while you're at it, please consider joining our mailing list, a bi-weekly email that will remind you of market dates, keep you informed about what's in season, and suggest recipes. 

The market season is here! Posters will shortly start appearing all over the county, and our advertisements will be popping up in local newspapers. If you have access to a public place and would like to put up a poster, please contact us and someone will be in touch with you shortly to arrange a poster drop-off. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, and above all, come to the markets! For a list of market places, starting dates, and times, visit our Markets page. Happy eating, Centre County!

It's high summer, but here in Centre County the weather is feeling more fall-like by the day! Don't let that fool you, though- the fruits of summer are still available in a big way at your local farmers' markets. Now is a great time to stock up on mass quantities of tomatoes for preservation. If canning or drying them sounds intimidating, don't worry- tomatoes are an acidic food, meaning they're safe to can in a water bath rather than a pressure canner- add a little citric acid or lemon juice to be on the safe side, and always follow a tested recipe. Look for supplies at any grocery store. Intimidated by the task of peeling them? Couldn't be easier- just blanch them in boiling water until the skin starts to crack, then transfer them into an ice bath. The skins will slide right off. And if canning still sounds like too much fuss, you can still enjoy local tomatoes all through the winter by freezing them. Freeze them whole, and when they defrost, they'll slip right out of their skins!

Ever wondered what a day in the life of a farmer is like? James Eisenstein of Jade Family Farms tells it like it is on WPSU's Local Food Journey blog. Several local farmers contribute to this blog. If you enjoy their writing, support them by buying from them at the markets! Local food seems to be all over the news lately- the Centre Daily Times recently ran an article on Jay and Laura Young of Young American Growers about their meat goat-raising operation. This article on StateCollege.com tells the tale of how Kim Tait of Tait Farm Foods recently testified before Congress as they considered provisions of the Farm Bill.

Don't forget, the American Farmland Trust is currently running its annual contest for America's Favorite Farmers Markets. The Downtown State College Farmers' Market and the North Atherton Farmers Market are both participating this year, and you get to vote! Visit the Farmland Trust's website and search for State College to find our markets and cast your vote! The winning market will receive a shipment of tote bags, a frontpage article on Epicurious.com and other prizes. Have you voted yet? While you're there, you can make a donation to the Farmland Trust or request a free "No Farms, No Food" bumper sticker! You don't even have to choose- you can vote for as many markets as you like, once per market.

We've received a lot of good feedback on our newspaper and television ads. If you're new to the markets, let us know either by email or just by telling a vendor- how did you find out about the market? Do you have any suggestions for other publicity we could pursue? Any ideas on how the markets could be improved in general? Let us know! Email centralpafarmers@gmail.com.

What's in season now?

Berries: Raspberries (black and red), blueberries
Cut Flowers: Sunflowers
Fruit: Apples, Apricots, Peaches, Pears, Plum, Muskmelons, Watermelon
Greens: Chard
Herbs: Basil, Lavender
Vegetables: Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Carrots, Celery, Corn (sweet), Cucumbers, Eggplant, Leeks, Onions, Peppers, Potatoes, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Zucchini

This Week's Featured Recipe: Grilled Pesto Chicken With Summer Vegetables

It may be cliche, but how can we not talk about the weather? That heat bubble was hard on area farms, but the rain that has come in the last week has sure been welcome. Welcome to high summer- the markets are full of juicy tomatoes and melons, sweet corn, and cool treats. Spring Bank Acres has homemade ice cream at the Downtown State College Farmers' Market. Many vendors make and bottle their own drinks such as lemonade and kombucha. At the North Atherton Farmers' Market, stop by Cafe Karla for frozen lemonade or coffee granita.

This week (July 30th-August 6th) is Local Foods Week with the Centre County chapter of Buy Fresh Buy Local and the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture! This event will culminate with the 6th annual Farm Tour, featuring many of the vendors at the three State College markets. Tickets are $15 per car or $5 per bike, and can be purchased at the markets or at the first farm you visit. Remember a few tips, if you're planning to go- wear comfortable shoes and clothes you don't mind getting dusty, bring along drinks and snacks, and leave your pets at home. Plan on visiting 3 or 4 farms- and take plenty of pictures! You can upload them to our Facebook page if you'd like to share them with others.

WPSU's Local Food Journey is continuing to hold a recipe contest.  Submit your favorite sweet corn recipe for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature's Pantry! But you only have one day to go- recipes must be submitted by midnight on July 31st, this Sunday. And speaking of the radio, a soundbite from the Downtown State College Farmers' Market was featured on NPR's "Summer Sounds" series for Weekend Edition. Listen here.

Don't forget, the American Farmland Trust is currently running its annual contest for America's Favorite Farmers Markets. The Downtown State College Farmers' Market and the North Atherton Farmers Market are both participating this year, and you get to vote! Visit the Farmland Trust's website and search for State College to find our markets and cast your vote! The winning market will receive a shipment of tote bags, a frontpage article on Epicurious.com and other prizes. Have you voted yet? While you're there, you can make a donation to the Farmland Trust or request a free "No Farms, No Food" bumper sticker! You don't even have to choose- you can vote for as many markets as you like, once per market.

We've received a lot of good feedback on our newspaper and television ads. If you're new to the markets, let us know either by email or just by telling a vendor- how did you find out about the market? Do you have any suggestions for other publicity we could pursue? Any ideas on how the markets could be improved in general? Let us know! Email centralpafarmers@gmail.com.

What's in season now?

Berries: Raspberries (black and red), blueberries
Cut Flowers: Sunflowers
Fruit: Apricots, Peaches, Sour Cherries, Apples, Melons
Greens: Chard, Kale
Herbs: Basil, Mint
Vegetables: Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Corn (sweet), Cucumbers, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Onions, Peas (snap), Peas (snow), Peppers, Potatoes, Radish, Scallions, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Zucchini

This Week's Featured Recipe: Apple-Chipotle Pulled Pork

Summer is hot, but it's always cool to eat local food. The markets are full of juicy summer produce- tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, raspberries, gooseberries and more are all waiting for you. Don't forget meat, dairy, honey, baked goods, and other unique eats! Sweet corn is also starting to show up, though it's still rare at this point. Look for it to become ubiquitous around the end of the month.

In other local food news, and speaking of sweet corn, WPSU's Local Food Journey is holding a new recipe contest.  Submit your favorite sweet corn recipe for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature's Pantry!

Don't forget, the American Farmland Trust is currently running its annual contest for America's Favorite Farmers Markets. The Downtown State College Farmers' Market and the North Atherton Farmers Market are both participating this year, and you get to vote! Visit the Farmland Trust's website and search for State College to find our markets and cast your vote! The winning market will receive a shipment of tote bags, a frontpage article on Epicurious.com and other prizes. Have you voted yet? While you're there, you can make a donation to the Farmland Trust or request a free "No Farms, No Food" bumper sticker! You don't even have to choose- you can vote for as many markets as you like, once per market.

We've received a lot of good feedback on our newspaper and television ads. If you're new to the markets, let us know either by email or just by telling a vendor- how did you find out about the market? Do you have any suggestions for other publicity we could pursue? Any ideas on how the markets could be improved in general? Let us know! Email centralpafarmers@gmail.com.

What's in season now?

Berries: Raspberries (black and red)
Cut Flowers: Sunflowers
Fruit: Apricots, Peaches, Sour Cherries, Apples (still rare- check with Way Fruit Farm at the Friday market)
Greens: Chard, Kale
Herbs: Basil, Mint
Vegetables: Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Corn (sweet), Cucumbers, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Onions, Peas (snap), Peas (snow), Peppers, Potatoes, Radish, Scallions, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Zucchini

This Week's Featured Recipe: Goat Sausage in Sundried Tomato Pesto

Welcome to summer! This is the time of year when some of the most luscious produce finds its way to the markets- raspberries both red and black, tomatoes, cucumbers! Not to mention grilling season. The markets are not just for vegetables and fruits- don't forget you can also pick up meat for your barbecues! The best part about buying your meat at the farmers' markets is the opportunity to ask the farmer about how their animals are raised, and the comfort of knowing exactly where your meat is coming from. It's possible to find unusual meats, too- A.B.B. Bison has bison meat and Hidden Follow Farms has rabbit and duck at the Tuesday Downtown State College Farmers' Market, while Young American Growers sells goat meat at the North Atherton Farmers Market. Dairy and eggs are also readily available at all the markets.

Don't forget, the American Farmland Trust is currently running its annual contest for America's Favorite Farmers Markets. The Downtown State College Farmers' Market and the North Atherton Farmers Market are both participating this year, and you get to vote! Visit the Farmland Trust's website and search for State College to find our markets and cast your vote! The winning market will receive a shipment of tote bags, a frontpage article on Epicurious.com and other prizes. Have you voted yet? While you're there, you can make a donation to the Farmland Trust or request a free "No Farms, No Food" bumper sticker! As of this afternoon, the North Atherton Farmers Market is in sixth place for Pennsylvania and only needs a few votes to make it to #5. So vote! You don't even have to choose- you can vote for as many markets as you like, once per market.

We've received a lot of good feedback on our newspaper and television ads. If you're new to the markets, let us know either by email or just by telling a vendor- how did you find out about the market? Do you have any suggestions for other publicity we could pursue? Any ideas on how the markets could be improved in general? Let us know! Email centralpafarmers@gmail.com, or leave a comment here.

Have a happy 4th of July- and bring some local foods to your picnic!

What's in season now?

Berries: Raspberries (black and red)
Cut Flowers: Sunflowers
Fruit: Apricots, Peaches, Sour Cherries (still a bit early for these, but they should start showing up later in the month)
Greens: Chard, Kale
Herbs: Basil, Mint
Vegetables: Beans, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Corn (sweet), Cucumbers, Garlic, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Onions, Peas (snap), Peas (snow), Peppers, Potatoes, Radish, Scallions, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Zucchini


This Week's Featured Recipe: Cucumber Sandwiches with Goat Cheese Tapenade

Hope you've all been enjoying strawberry season! It's short but sweet, and nearly over. Get out to the markets early to score the berries, and buy in bulk- you can freeze them, make jam, or put them in pies. But not to worry, berry fans- raspberries should begin to appear at the markets any day now. Summer officially begins in just three days, and with it comes a lot of our favorite fruits and vegetables.

As reported in the last newsletter, the American Farmland Trust has begun its annual contest for America's Favorite Farmers Markets. The Downtown State College Farmers' Market and the North Atherton Farmers Market are both participating this year, and you get to vote! Visit the Farmland Trust's website and search for State College to find our markets and cast your vote! The winning market will receive a shipment of tote bags, a frontpage article on Epicurious.com and other prizes. Have you voted yet? While you're there, you can make a donation to the Farmland Trust or request a free "No Farms, No Food" bumper sticker!

Our markets have been receiving a lot of support from the media in recent weeks- StateCollege.com had a wonderful article about buying fresh and local, and our friends at WPSU's Local Food Journey are relentlessly supportive. Recent interviews included Addison Hoffman at Howard's End CSA, who is a vendor at the Tuesday downtown market, and Barrie Moser of Moser's Garden Produce, who is a vendor at all three markets and the President of the Tuesday market. Go watch the interviews, read the articles, and support the efforts of this public project!

What's in season now?
 Berries: Strawberries, Raspberries
Greens: Arugula, Chard, Escarole, Kale, Lettuces, Mustard Greens, Bok Choy, Spinach, Sorrel
Herbs: Basil, Mint
Vegetables: Asparagus (almost over), Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage (chinese), Carrots, Celery, Garlic Scapes, Peas (snap), Peas (snow), Potatoes (new red), Radish, Scallions, Tomatoes (still scarce, but keep your eyes open!), Green Onions, Kohlrabi, Summer Squash

This Week's Featured Recipe: Sorrel and Summer Squash Salad

Within a couple of weeks, we've gone from cool and rainy to hot and sunny! The growing season is well and truly underway now. Watch for more and more of your favorite produce appearing at the markets- over the next couple of weeks we'll see strawberries appear in droves!

In other news, the American Farmland Trust has begun its annual contest for America's Favorite Farmers Markets. The Downtown State College Farmers' Market and the North Atherton Farmers Market are both participating this year, and you get to vote! Visit the Farmland Trust's website and search for State College to find our markets and cast your vote! The winning market will receive a shipment of tote bags, a frontpage article on Epicurious.com and other prizes.

And for all you aspiring chefs out there, visit WPSU.org and enter the Local Food Journey's strawberry recipe contest. With strawberry season just starting to be upon us, it's the perfect time to experiment and hone your best recipe. The winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to Harrison's Wine Grill & Catering!

What's in season now?

Berries: Strawberries
Greens: Arugula, Chard, Escarole, Kale, Lettuces, Mustard Greens, Bok Choy, Spinach
Herbs: Basil
Vegetables: Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage (chinese), Carrots, Celery, Garlic Scapes, Peas (snap), Peas (snow), Potatoes (new red), Radish, Scallions, Tomatoes (generally toward the end of the month- but Kreider's Family Farms at the North Atherton Farmers' Market has hothouse tomatoes now!)

This Week's Featured Recipe: Asian-Inspired Carrot Pasta Salad

As of last week, all of the State College farmers’ markets are open for the season. Have you made it out to a market yet? We hope you’re enjoying what we have to offer so far! It’s been a cool, rainy spring, which can be good and bad- the water is good, but we could all use a little sun, and that includes the plants! In future newsletters we’ll have news of upcoming events like market festivals, but for now we’ll get down to what matters to everyone: the food!

What’s in season now?

Greens: lettuce, spinach, sorrel, argugula, lamb’s quarters, and more
Herbs: Mint, lemon balm, garlic chives
Vegetables: Spring onions, green scallions, asparagus, rhubarb, hothouse tomatoes (not always available)

Recipe of the Week: Rhubarb Upside Down Cake