“Turnip” The “Beet” For This Month’s Featured Farmers
It’s that time of year again when local farmers markets and produce stands start opening for the summer season! So what better way to start the summer season off then attending the Farmers Market In Hershey?! It is located on the front law of the Cocoa Beanery running May through October on Thursdays from 2:30 until 6:30 p.m.. Vendors at the market supply the area with local fruits and veggies, meats, fresh baked goods, speciality items including, herbs, spices, flowers, honey, canned goods and more!
The Farmers Market In Hershey has activities for all ages. Bring your kids to participate in the Summer 2018 Cubs Caring For Our Community program on Thursdays from 2:30 until 5:30 p.m. or bring grandma and grandpa to enjoy live music from the market’s Summer Concert Series.
Now let’s meet the people who help organize the Farmers Market In Hershey and the farmers that come together to make the market possible while providing fresh products to the community all summer long.
Everyone meet Meg Leason. Meg is the director of the Farmers Market In Hershey. For the past 4 years she has managed the vendors that come to the market, and all social platforms, while also coordinating other activities that the market has to offer. The market has been open for the past 9 years and has been growing ever since. Meg likes to think of the market as an incubator, where small farmers and businesses go to start selling their products and eventually grow and blossom into a market of their own. Meg also works closely with Wade Edris who is one of the original founders of the market. Wade organizes the Live Concert Series that takes place during the market.
This month’s featured farmers of the Farmers Market In Hershey are, Hope Hill Lavender Farm, Jade family Farm and Camelot Valley Fine Artisan Goat Cheese.
Planting their way into the first featured farmer spot is, Hope Hill Lavender Farm who was started by Wendy and Troy Jochems in 2004. Wendy’s strong passion for gardening combined with Troy’s passion for farming and creating sustainable products led them right to lavender. In 2011 Troy purchased 1,500 lavender plants and they decided to start their lavender farm. They have just recently built a farm store where they sell a majority of their lavender products. Other products they sell include herbs, catnip, local artisan crafted goods, and Made In America products.
Hope Hill Lavender Farm is a PA Preferred Farm meaning they are part of a state-supported agriculture marketing program. Hope Hill Lavender Farm supports Homegrown by Heroes meaning they sell products that are made by our country’s very own military veterans. Lastly, they are a member of PASA or Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture.
From purchasing their business in 2004 up until now Hope Hill Lavender Farm is growing as a business every day. You can find all of their products on their website, at their retail store in Pottsville, PA or right here at the Farmers Market In Hershey!
Growing their way into the second featured farmer spot is Jade Family Farm which was founded in 2005 by John and Dana Eistinstein . They are a certified organic farm meaning they produce all their products without the use of pesticides. They were able to get their organic certification after only one year of owning the farm. They grow a large number of products ranging from radishes and strawberries to fresh picked beets and mustard greens. Their small farm and wide variety of products allows them to adapt to any kind of market change that may occur during the season.
Jade Family Farm markets their produce through harvest share/CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) boxes. They allow their customers to put preferences of what fruits and veggies they like at the time of check out online. This allows them to have a better idea of what each customer enjoys so they can personalize each box. They offer their CSA in the Harrisburg and State College areas.
You can find Jade Family Farm at the Boalsburg and State College farmers markets. They also wholesale their products to the Tuscarora Organic Growers co-operative and the Radish and Rye Food Hub at Broad Street Market in Harrisburg. Stop by the Farmers Market In Hershey to grab fresh, local and ORGANIC fruits and veggies from Jade Family Farm.
The third featured farmer is Camelot Valley Fine Artisan Goat Cheese, founded in 2005 by Jennifer Bradbury. She purchased her first goats in 2005 as just a household resource. This is also when she produced her first batch of cheese from the goats milk. In 2008 she got her permit from the state to be able to produce and sell her goat cheese.
When Jennifer first started selling goat cheese she was marketing it to restaurants in Harrisburg. As she has become more skilled she started to selling her goat cheese to other farmers market vendors.
Jennifer has a variety of goats called Nubians. Nubian goats are higher in butter fat which creates a better tasting cheese. Products that can be purchased are Traditional Feta cheese; Camelot Valley Chevre which comes in many different flavors such as french herb, garlic and pink himalayan sea salt; and White Bloom Ripened goat cheeses offered in two different flavors: Moonlight Fog and Starlight Crottin.
Stop by the Farmers Market In Hershey every Thursday afternoon to check out this month’s featured farmers!
While attending the Farmers Market stop inside the Cocoa Beanery to try fresh-brewed coffee, seasonal fresh fruit smoothies, other speciality drinks, fresh baked treats including pies, ice cream sandwiches, fresh artisan sandwiches, salads, and more!
After buying everything you needed at the Farmers Market and stopping inside the Cocoa Beanery, head back outside for Live On the Lawn hosted by the Cocoa Beanery. Live On The Lawn is Thursdays and Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m. on the lawn of the Cocoa Beanery. Entertainment for the night includes live music, lawn games, craft beer and a menu of fresh food made right on the grill. Menu items include hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, grilled chicken sandwich, kids slider and a seasonal flatbread. Menu items change weekly to show the variety of of products that they will showcase. Veggies used in many dishes from Live On The Lawn menu are bought from the Farmers Market. You can’t get more local than that!
Don’t forget to stop by and get ready to “turnip” your taste buds at the Cocoa Beanery in Hershey, featuring Live On The Lawn and The Farmers Market In Hershey!