There are many reasons to shop at a local farmers market instead of a retail grocery store. You’ll have access to fresher produce and better deals, you’ll be supporting local farmers, and you get to connect with the local community. Check out these great farmers markets in the Allentown area.
Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market
Peruse the offerings of more than 60 vendors at this historic market. You can buy a week’s worth of groceries from stands for Clover Farm Meats, Red Barn Produce, Gannon’s Gourmet, and Mr. Bill’s Poultry Market. You can also take home some delicious baked goods from one of more than half a dozen participating bakeries.
If you want something to eat on the spot, visit one of the international booths, such as Bee Lee Sushi or Loan’s Authentic Vietnamese Bistro. Whether you’re looking for ingredients or fully cooked meals, you’ll find them here. The Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Emmaus Farmers Market
Travel about 15 minutes from Allentown to visit this popular farmers market in the town of Emmaus. This collective strives to provide shoppers with locally grown produce and to educate them about the important role that local farms play in the community. In addition to several produce, meat, and dairy vendors, the market offers baked goods, beverages, condiments, and prepared foods.
The market will open for this year’s season on May 6. To supplement its daily operations, the market also hosts events throughout the year. For example, you can participate in the market’s yoga lessons, dog parades, and live concerts.
Bethlehem Farmers Market
Visit this farmers market on Thursdays between May 3 and October 25 this year to sample fresh produce, baked goods, natural foods, and more. This market is run in cooperation with Lehigh University and is located about 15 minutes from Allentown.
This is a smaller market compared to some of its busier counterparts, but it’s an excellent place to find important ingredients such as peppers, zucchini, and apples. You may also be lucky enough to visit the market on a day when food trucks are on-site, giving you an excellent opportunity to sample local restaurants’ fare at a reasonable price.
SteelStacks Farmers Market
While you’re in Bethlehem, don’t forget about the SteelStacks Farmers Market. This market is open for business from May through November, which gives you a slightly longer shopping season than some other markets. SteelStacks is associated with Artsquest. This is a nonprofit organization that organizes music, art, festivals, and cultural experiences for the Bethlehem community. As a result, shopping at SteelStacks isn’t just a good place to get a great deal on produce, baked goods, and prepared foods. It also directly benefits the local economy.
While shopping at local farmers markets probably won’t completely replace your usual trips to the supermarket, you might be surprised at the quality of the food you can find. Visit one of these four markets, and you’ll get your seasonal groceries at a fantastic price.
Farmers Market Image by gmtbillings is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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