Farmers' Markets

Philadelphia

Urban market places are as old as civilization and played an important role in the formation of cities and the civic life of their citizens. Today, outdoor seasonal farmers' markets reflect these origins by providing a civilized and democratic gathering place for people to meet and purchase agricultural products from the region. More and more families and culinary professionals realize the importance of locally grown food for the health of their family members and customers, for the survival of family farms, for the preservation of farmland and open space, and for the security of the region's food supply. For these reasons, more and more families are shopping at farmers' markets.

GLOSSARY

Note the term IPM used to describe the fruits and vegetables available at some of the markets. IPM stands for Integrated Pest Management. The National IPM Network defines IPM practice as "a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks."

Also note the references to pastured animals. When cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, and other animals are allowed to eat their natural diet - grass, bugs, and other organisms in a field - they produce superior quality meat, eggs, and milk. The farmers who raise their livestock on pasture typically do not feed them antibiotics nor inject them with hormones. Research shows that meat, eggs, and dairy products from grassfed animals have higher omega-3 fatty acids, more favorable omega-3 to omega-6 ratios, and lower cholesterol than the poor beasts stuffed with corn in feed-lots. They are healthy animals and the products made from them are better for people. Eggs are available from various farms at all our markets! The following are markets at which meat from pastured animals is available:

• Rittenhouse on Tuesday (Rineer Family Farm: beef)
• South & Passyunk (Livengood's Family Farm: beef, pork, fresh poultry)
• Jefferson (Herbal Springs Farmstead: beef)
• Rittenhouse on Saturday (Cherry Grove Farm: beef, pork, lamb; Rineer Family Farm: beef)
• Chestnut Hill (Landisdale Farm and Rineer Family Farm: beef; Breakaway Farms: beef, veal, pork, poultry, lamb, goat, sausages)
• Bryn Mawr (Birchrun Hills Farm: pork, veal; Canter Hill Farm: lamb, poultry; Herbal Springs Farmstead: beef; Livengood's Family Farm: beef, pork, fresh poultry)
• Swarthmore (Forrest Acres: beef, pork, lamb, goat, rabbit, poultry)

Please support these farmers and enjoy high-quality meat that is not a product of the industrial food system.

MARKETS FOR THE 2010 SEASON

REAL FARMERS, REAL FOOD!

All markets now open!

Many of the farmers at our markets do accept Farmers' Market Nutrition Program vouchers, issued to seniors or WIC recipients; each farmer must apply to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to be eligible to accept these paper checks, so please check with individual farmer(s) at each market. However, none of our markets have an electronic card reader, so none of the markets are equipped for use of the EBT card, through SNAP (formerly food stamps).

Tuesdays

• Rittenhouse Farmers' Market
  Hours: 10 am to 1 pm
  Location: Walnut Street (south sidewalk), west of 18th Street
  Products: IPM fruits and vegetables - beef and eggs from pastured animals
  
• South & Passyunk Farmers' Market
  Hours: 2:30 to 7 pm
  Location: On Passyunk Ave, off South Street just east of 5th Street
  Products: organically grown vegetables and berries - IPM fruits - beef, pork, poultry & eggs from pastured animals - artisan bread - John & Kira's chocolate
  
• Mt Airy Farmers' Market
  Hours: 3 to 7 pm
  Location: The plaza of Lutheran Theological Seminary, on the 7200 block of Germantown Ave
  Products: organic and IPM fruits & vegetables - wide variety of meats from pastured animals - cut flowers and herbal teas
  Local partners: Valley Green Bank, Lutheran Theological Seminary.
  Updates: Visit their Facebook page.
  

Wednesdays

• University Square Farmers' Market
  Hours: 10 am to 2 pm
  Location: 36th St at Walnut Street
  Products: Conventional vegetables - IPM fruit & berries - dairy products from pastured animals - Amish canned & baked goods - artisan baked goods
  Local partner: University of Pennsylvania
  
• The Mayor's Farmers' Market at Love Park
  Hours: 11 am to 3 pm
  New Location: In Love Park, 15th JFK.
  Products: IPM fruits & vegetables - vegetables from the urban farms of Teens4Good - baked goods
  Local partners: City of Philadelphia and Penn State Extension
  
• Fountain Farmers' Market
  Hours: 3 to 7 pm
  Location: East Passyunk Ave, at 11th and Tasker Streets
  Products: IPM fruits & vegetables - Amish cheese and baked goods - cut flowers
  Local partner: East Passyunk Business Improvement District
  
• Girard & 27th Farm Stand opening to be announced!
  Hours: 10 am to 1 pm
  A Farm to City Affiliate Market; the West Girard Community Council is the local sponsor and market operator.
  
• Oakmont Farmers' Market (Havertown)
  Hours: 3 to 7 pm
  Location: Oakmont Municipal Parking Lot, Darby Road just west of Eagle Road
  A former Farm to City Affiliate Market; please visit their website for more information.

Thursdays

• Suburban Station Farmers' Market
  Year-round market!
  Hours: 2:30 to 6:30 pm
  Location: 16th Street Concourse between Market and JFK near the 16th Street elevator
  Products: IPM fruits & vegetables - beef & eggs from pastured animals
  
• Jefferson Farmers' Market
  Hours: 11 am to 3:30 pm
  Location: Chestnut Street east of 10th Street
  Products: IPM fruits & greens - beef & eggs from pastured animals - jams & baked goods from seasonal fruit - bread
  Local partner: Jefferson Hospital
  
• Bala Cynwyd Farmers' Market
  Hours: 3 to 7 pm
  Location: GSB building parking lot, on Belmont Ave. near St. Asaph's Rd
  Products: Organic & IPM vegetables - IPM fruit - goats' milk, yogurt, and artisan cheeses - European-style bread - jams and baked goods made on farm - artisan chocolate - plants and cut flowers
  More information: Visit their website, plus their Facebook page for updates.
  

Fridays

• East Falls Farmers' Market
  Hours: 3 to 7 pm
  Location: Midvale Avenue near Ridge Avenue
  Products: IPM vegetables and berries - cheese from grassfed cows - Amish baked goods
  Local partner: East Falls CDC
  

Saturdays

• Rittenhouse Farmers' Market
  Year-round market!
  Hours: 9:30 am to 3 pm.
  Location: Walnut Street (south sidewalk), west of 18th Street 
  Products: IPM fruits & vegetables - mushrooms - goat's-milk cheeses - milk and yogurt from pastured cows - meat and eggs from pastured animals - regular and gluten-free bread - honey - artisan chocolate made in Philadelphia - cut flowers
  
• Chestnut Hill Growers' Market
  Hours: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
  Location: Winston Road between Germantown Avenue and Mermaid Lane
  Products: organic & IPM vegetables and berries - IPM fruit - goat's-milk cheeses and yogurt - eggs and meat from pastured animals - honey - artisan chocolate made in Philadelphia
  
• Manayunk Farmers' Market
  Hours: 10 am to 2 pm
  Location: Canal View Park, on Main Street near Gay Street
  more information pending...
  
• Swarthmore Farmers' Market
  Hours: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
  Location: In municipal building parking lot, across from the Swarthmore Co-op
  Products: IPM vegetables & fruit - mushrooms - meat and eggs from grass-fed animals - artisan chocolate and soap
  Local partner: Swarthmore Town Center, Inc.
  
• Bryn Mawr Farmers' Market
  Hours: 10 am to 2 pm
  Location: Municipal Lot 7 on Lancaster Avenue, in front of the Bryn Mawr train station, across from Ludington Library
  Products: Organic & IPM vegetables - IPM fruit - cows' and goats' milk, yogurt, and artisan cheeses - meats and eggs from pastured animals - European-style and gluten-free bread and baked goods - honey - artisan chocolate - plants and cut flowers
  More information: Visit their website, plus their Facebook page for updates.
  

Sundays

• Farmers' Market at Reading Terminal
  Hours: 9 am to 5 pm
  Location: Inside the Reading Terminal Market, in the north court near the Arch St entrance
  Products: biodynamically-grown vegetables, herbs, and fruit - cut flowers
  Local partner: Reading Terminal Market Corporation.
  

This page was updated on August 27, 2010 by jrp

Copyright Farm to City, LLC, 2000-2006