Market boosts area farms struggling with inflation
Jul. 19—SCRANTON — Logan Broyan isn't sure how his family's farm would survive if not for the Co-Operative Farmers Market.
Despite gas prices rising nearly 80% and fertilizer costs jumping almost 100%, the Broyan family will make the 50-mile trek from Nescopeck three days a week to sell fruits and vegetables to loyal customers.
"This is definitely one of our better markets," Broyan said. "It's a big source of our income."
The 83rd season of the annual market on Barring Avenue kicked off Monday and will run each Monday, Wednesday and Friday until Thanksgiving.
Like many vendors, Broyan's Farm passes on some of its burden to customers this year.
"We figured we have to up our prices a little bit just to cover the costs of our seed and fuel prices going up," Broyan said.
A recent run of dry weather created challenges for Broyan's Farm before some much-needed rain arrived this week.
"We've been irrigating like crazy," Broyan said. "Our spring-fed pond got so low that we had to haul in loads of water. Our garlic isn't the size it should be just because of the lack of rain."
Gary Wojciechowski, co-owner of Michael's Farms in Shickshinny, also plans to travel about 50 miles three times a week to man the Michael's Farm Market stand.
"I just hope we can make a profit over the fuel costs," he said. "This market gives us a real big boost. It's really tough, though, because it costs $60 a day just to run a pickup truck up and down the road, not to mention running a tractor for cultivation. Last year, it was half of that."
While the farm increased the price of some items to help offset a spike in production and transportation costs, Wojciechowski stressed it's difficult to achieve a financial gain.
"It's terrible," he said. "It's killing us. We tried to raise some prices to absorb some of it, but you really can't because everything else doubled — fertilizer, feed and our fuel."
Produce farmers aren't the only vendors struggling.
Gabriele Murphy, owner of EverJoy Flower Farm in Honesdale, only plans to open her stand on Wednesdays and Fridays this year due to the high gas prices.
"We don't have any increased expenses on the farm itself, it's just getting to the market," she said. "We're spending $80 a gas each week this year and it was less than $40 last year."
Scarce rainfalls have also hampered the growth of some flowers on her Wayne County farm.
"They're delayed a little from the dry weather," she said. "I'm hoping we'll get some rain this week."
Several shoppers didn't seem deterred by modest price increases as they perused the stands.
Rebecca Janus, 22, of Factoryville, left the market Monday with fresh dill and mushrooms.
"It's nice to support all the local people," Janus said. "Everybody is always selling good products for a good price so that's a plus, too."
Francine Kiryluk, 62, of Nicholson, a longtime shopper of at least 30 years, purchased corn, peaches, bread and cabbage.
"I think the prices are OK considering everywhere else I've gone is higher," she said.
Contact the writer: rtomkavage@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131; @rtomkavage on Twitter.
