Here's what to know as Beaver County farmers markets open for the season
Locally grown produce, fresh-baked breads, fragrant flowers, hot prepared meals, sweet honey, homemade gifts and a cornucopia of other treats await visitors to the Beaver County Farmers' Markets.
The weekly markets return April 29, starting as always with the Saturday markets at the Beaver County Court House parking lot in Beaver. Weekly hours there will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Then the first several days of May begin the weekly markets in Beaver Falls (Mondays), New Brighton (Tuesdays), Chippewa Township (also Tuesdays) and Ambridge (Thursdays).
What's new
The Beaver Falls market, behind Brodhead Apartments on Eighth Avenue; the New Brighton market, in the parking lot of Diamond Milling on Fifth Avenue; and the Chippewa market, in the Chippewa United Methodist Church lot on Darlington Road; all start at 3 p.m. ― a half hour earlier than last year, and last until 6 p.m.
The Ambridge market, in the parking lot of St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Park Road, remains 4-7 p.m.
The four new vendors this year:
*Liz’s Little Flower Farm, selling cut flowers and crafts at the New Brighton market.
*Daylily Valley Farm, selling hybrid daylilies at Ambridge and Chippewa.
*Mama Linda’s, selling Italian beef sandwiches at Chippewa.
*Ginger Gardens, selling flowers and handmade items at Beaver Falls.
Also: Fitzgibbon Meadery, the Ellwood City meadery that made its Beaver Farmers Market debut late last season, will be back at the Beaver market for the full season.
Returning regulars
More than 30 vendors return from last year, set for the markets listed below:
Douds-Floyd Farm (Ambridge, Beaver)
Enon Country Gardens, (Ambridge, Beaver, Chippewa)
Fabyanic Farm, (Ambridge, Beaver)
Farrow Mushrooms, (Ambridge)
Fausti Family Farm, (Ambridge, Beaver)
Fitzgibbon Meadery (Ambridge, Beaver)
GG Biscotti (Beaver)
Glatz Wine Cellars (Beaver)
Gray Goat BBQ, (Ambridge, Beaver, Chippewa)
Habrle Brothers Farm, (Beaver)
Harley’s Oak Spring Farm, (Ambridge, Beaver, Beaver Falls, Chippewa, New Brighton)
Highland Homestead Farm, (Ambridge, Beaver, Chippewa)
Kohlmann Farms, (Beaver)
Labyrinth Farm, (Ambridge, Beaver)
McConnell’s Hill Farm, (Ambridge, Beaver)
McCormack Apiaries, (Beaver)
McElhaney Family Farm, (Ambridge, Beaver)
Milton Mauk, mushrooms, (Beaver)
May-Malone Farm, (Ambridge, Beaver)
Muetzel Mountain Apiaries, (Ambridge)
Novel Breads, (Beaver)
Orlo’s Perennial Nursery, (Beaver)
PJs Deli & Catering, (Ambridge, Beaver, Chippewa)
Rafka Foods, Inc. (Jemilla) Lebanese food, (Beaver)
Red Diamond Honey (Chippewa)
Ridgemont Farms (Beaver)
Scarsella Vegetables, (Ambridge)
Schweikert Greenhouse, (Ambridge, Beaver)
Swab’s Fruits & Vegetables, (Ambridge, Beaver)
The Swicks, (Ambridge, Beaver, Beaver Falls, New Brighton)
Trisha’s Farm, (Ambridge, Beaver, Chippewa)
Wockenfuss Family Farm, (Beaver)
Woodward Orchard, (Ambridge, Beaver, Chippewa)
East Palestine addressed
Beaver County Farmers’ Markets publicly addressed the Norfolk-Southern train derailment this past February in East Palestine, Ohio, which has concerned people about the possibility of contamination of soil or water supplies of farms in that area.
"Beaver County Farmers’ Markets (BCFM) understands your concerns over the health and safety of consuming Beaver County-grown produce; BCFM has those same concerns," the group posted a month ago on its Facebook page. "To provide accurate information, BCFM is relying on Pennsylvania state organizations (departments of Agriculture, Health, Environmental Protection, and Penn State Extension) and the Beaver County Commissioners' office."
The Beaver/Lawrence Farm Bureau also is monitoring the situation and is keeping the BCFM informed.
"We are waiting to hear back from the sources above the results of water and soil tests taken in Beaver County," BCFM said.
Responding to an emailed question last Tuesday whether there were any updates on water and soil tests, BCFM spokeswoman Laurie Fletcher said, "We are referring all inquiries to those government agencies who are in charge of the agricultural aspect."
The state Department of Environmental Protection has completed soil tests of 15 requested farms in Beaver and Lawrence counties and found nothing of consequence, the state Department of Agriculture said Wednesday. Soil tests on 200 additional properties is ongoing. Previous water and air tests have come back negative.
The state Department of Agriculture and state Department of Environmental Protection websites are: agriculture.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx and dep.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
The Department of Agriculture also has toll-free number: 855-777-6735.
Closing dates
Markets continue weekly through Nov. 21, except for Beaver's, which stays open until Dec. 16, and New Brighton's, which closes Nov. 14. The Ambridge market's final day is moved to a Tuesday, Nov. 21, to not conflict with Thanksgiving.
The website with weekly news and updates is at beavercountyfarmersmarket.com or on Facebook page at facebook.com/BeaverCountyFarmersMarkets and Instagram at instagram.com/bcfarmersmarkets.
More details
The markets do not allow any pets, including held or leashed dogs.
Penn State Extension is planning a June 3 cooking demonstration at the Beaver market, and June 8 at the Ambridge market.
"We hope for more demonstrations throughout the season," Fletcher said.
"To celebrate Mother's and Father's Days, kids will be able to plant a flower at the Beaver market then give it to their mother or father," Fletcher said. "August is Pennsylvania Produce Month and we expect once again (state) Sen. Elder Vogel to attend a market in Beaver. Zucchini races for the kids will be held in August at Beaver, too. A special celebration at the Beaver market is planned in September to commemorate our Founders Day. This usually is a sample of freshly made food by our own Chef Matthew."
Updates at beavercountyfarmersmarket.com
Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Things to know as Beaver County farmers markets open for the season
