Oakmont Farmers Market Opens Wednesday

It’s only two days until the grand opening of the third season at the Oakmont Farmers Market, so I thought a little announcement and information might be in order.

There’s big news for the market on two fronts this year. First, the OFM is now an official 501c3 not-for-profit educational organization. Second, and for your greater shopping pleasure, the market will be joined by three new producers:

• Lime Valley Mill Farm, located in Lancaster County, will be at the market every week, offering organically farmed (not certified) specialty vegetables.
  
  
• As a cheese lover, I’m especially excited to have two of the area’s finest farmstead cheese producers – Shellbark Hollow Farm and Birchrun Hills Farm –join the market this year. They’ll be alternating, once a month each, in the market spot occupied the other two alternating weeks of each month by Spotted Hill Farm.

We’re also very pleased to have the following producers returning for this year’s market:

• North Star Orchard: Multiple varieties of heirloom apples, pears, plums and peaches; fruit butters and assorted vegetables
  
• Fruitwood Orchards Honey Farm: Local honeys and a variety of fruits and vegetables
  
• Blueberry Hill Farm: Berries, vegetables and dog treats
  
• Schaeffer's Flowers: Flowers and wreaths
  
• Hillacres Pride: Cows’ milk cheeses, beef, pork, lamb and hummus
  
• Great Harvest Bread Company: Bread, baked goods, granola
  
• Backyard Bison: Burgers, steaks, ribs, roasts and cured meats from locally pastured American Plains Buffalo
  
• Spotted Hill Farm: Goat milk soaps and body care products
  
• Lindenhof Farm: Chickens and eggs, turkeys and potpies, pork, lamb

As in years past, the mission of the market is simple: to provide an outlet for local farmers to present their naturally grown goods directly to members of their own greater communities. The market is producer-only; to be represented, all products must be grown and produced within 100 miles of Havertown. The idea is not only to provide healthy, natural products but also to promote a greater reliance on locally farmed food. Why buy an “organic” apple from Washington State, a blackberry from Mexico, ground beef from Texas or broccoli from China when you can get them and other great seasonal goods from a farm in your own community? When the food on your table doesn’t travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to get there, its environmental impact is gentler and its greater freshness is made that much more meaningful.

The Oakmont Market opens at 3:00 PM sharp this Wednesday, May 21, 2009. Bring your families, bring your shopping lists, bring your tote bags and your appetite, and help to strengthen your community by eating great, locally grown food.

Oakmont Farmers Market

Wednesdays from 3:00 to 7:00 PM
May 20 – September 2, 2009

And as daylight begins to wane...

Wednesdays from 2:00 to 6:00 PM
September 9 – November 25, 2009

In the Oakmont Parking Lot
One block NW of the intersection of Darby & Eagle Roads
2419 West Darby Road
Havertown, PA 19083