|
Lititz Farmers' Market
By Melinda Elmer
Lititz Record Express
Published: May 01, 2008 10:35 AM EST
Lititz -
The Lititz Farmers' Market will open with a big celebration on
Saturday, May 24, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Along with 15 vendors committed to the
market thus far, children's activities and music are planned as
well.
The market will be held every Saturday morning through Oct. 25
at the Susquehanna Bancshares parking lot on the first block of North Water
Street.
"The proximity to downtown (Lititz) truly makes this a
pedestrian market," said Dave Kratzer, secretary to the Farmers'
Market Board of Directors and assistant Warwick Township
manager.
Local legislators will attend the opening-day festivities
where vendors will supply locally grown and produced fruit, vegetables,
herbs, flowers, plants, eggs, meat, and dairy products, as well as baked
goods, jams and jellies, cider and crafts made from farm products. Included
in this list are specialty items such as organic and heirloom vegetables,
grass-fed meats and smoked peppers. Farmers' Nutrition Program checks
are accepted by some vendors.
All of the vendors grow their products
within 30 miles of Lititz; most are within 10 miles. "We want to
emphasize the locally grown, farm produced products," said Lititz
Farmers' Market Board of Directors member-at-large David Deibler. Board
member and farmer-vendor Dennis Hess noted that the Market may generate
orders for bulk sales for home freezing and canning.
A few 18 x 18
foot vendor stalls are still available for rent. Vendors must rent for a
minimum of four weeks at $20 a week. The seasonal discount rate is $360 if
paid in full in advance. Vendors must be the growers or producers of the
items they sell.
Kelly Withum of Venture Lititz reported that about
10 spaces are still available.
"A lot of our (local) farmers
are going to Philadelphia Markets, rather than (local markets such as)
Roots and Green Dragon," she said. "I have a feeling that once we
get started, we'll have people wanting to join."
The
purposes of Lititz Farmers' Market are to provide local farmers better
marketing and sales opportunities, to provide consumers fresh, locally
grown or produced products at a convenient location and to educate the
public about healthy food options.
The Warwick chapter of the Future
Farmers of America has been involved from the beginning.
"They
volunteered to help with promotions, to set up on market days, and may even
have their own stand. They will be the only vendor allowed to re-sell items
they did not produce," said Withum. "The group plans to give
seeds to school students with instructions for growing. They will bring
their produce to the market in October for judging, county fair
style."
An information stand will provide nutrition,
agricultural and health information. Meal plans and recipes may also be
offered.
Sponsors of the market include Blue Ridge Communications,
Heart of Lancaster Hospital, PA Preferred from the Pennsylvania Department
of Agriculture, Susquehanna Bank, UGI, and Venture Lititz. They have
assisted with start-up costs, marketing and promotions and other
necessities such as traffic control and portable toilets. Prestige Graphics
will donate a large sponsor banner. A $4000 PA Department of Agriculture
grant provided start-up funds for the Market.
The market got started
under the direction of a "Steering Committee composed of community
people interested in getting this market off the ground," said Withum.
"They met with market masters of other markets, researched
by-laws" and more. The Steering Committee has given way to a Board of
Directors.
The Board of Directors of the Farmers' Market is a
sub-committee of Economic Restructuring Committee of Venture Lititz. It is
composed of five farmer/producers, one Future Farmers of America
representative, one Venture Lititz representative, one Warwick Township
representative, the Market Master, three members at large and the
(non-voting) Board Secretary.
Venture Lititz is a product of the
joint strategic plan, which had identified a farm market as an important
initiative for the Lititz-Warwick community. Senator Brubaker convened the
first meeting of farmers to see if there was support for the Market from
the agricultural community.
The market board continues to accept
applications for the market master position. The master cannot be a
standholder. The position is voluntary at this point, but if enough money
is generated, the market master may receive a small stipend at the end of
the season.
The master will attend market days and will assist
vendors and customers with questions and situations as they
occur.
For more information or to apply for a vendor stall or the
Market Master position, contact Kelly Withum of Venture Lititz at 626-6332
or www.lititzpa.com.
|
