West Reading Avenues Spring 2017 - 40

FARMERS MARKET

West Reading
Farmers Market

by Terrie Taylor

s much as I love winter - snow, sledding, and hot chocolate - I do miss our weekly visits to the West Reading
Farmers Market. From May until November, we spend
every Sunday morning on Penn Avenue. Usually my husband,
Eric, and I walk to church with our two children, Saoirse, age
3/12, and Deaglan, age 2. On our way to church, it is still early,
and we see the stands are just beginning to set up, giving us the
first glimpse of the day's treats, and helping us plan our mission
for the walk home. By the time mass is over, Penn Avenue is
bustling with activity. It's almost like stepping back in time;
everyone seems to know each other, families casually shopping
while they enjoy the sunshine and entertainment. There is just
something about shopping for fresh food in the open air that
makes you feel good.
Our children love to greet all of the dogs out for their morning
walk. We love running into old friends and neighbors, seeing our
day care teachers and their families, and meeting new friends
that we happen to run into every week. The kids love to try
new foods, and thanks to many of the vendors, our samples
are usually free! It's also great to see so many shops and restaurants open on Sunday mornings, and we love checking out
new stores when we can. We've also learned about kambucha,
home composting, the strange varieties of mushrooms in our
area, and the local art projects happening under the guidance
of our high school art teacher. The music entertainment also
adds to the fun atmosphere!

As a life-long resident of West Reading, we love that the market
brings the community together in a welcoming, diverse atmosphere. Families, couples, singles, young and old, all mingle
together. People visit the market from all over Berks County
and beyond, and I feel a sense of pride when I hear them rave
about Penn Avenue and how much fun they have visiting our
little borough. I loved growing up in this area, and I am so
grateful to be able to raise my family in this neighborhood. I
hope my children will remember these mornings, and even be
able to pass on this experience to their families in the future.
38

Avenues Spring 2017

Saoirse, Deaglan, and their cousin, Otis
(visiting from Portland OR) enjoying some
treats at Sweet Ride Ice Cream shop.

So, while I hope for one good snowstorm (just one), I am looking
forward to Spring and the return of our weekly trips to the market!
I hope I get to see you there!
The West Reading Farmers Market is a producer-only market. We offer consumers fresh, locally-grown products, featuring produce, beef, pork and poultry.
The mission of the West Reading Farmers Market is to educate the public on
the benefits of supporting local agriculture and continuing the preservation of
farmland in the surrounding community, thereby strengthening the diversity
of the community in general.
Continue to shop top selections from the West Reading's own producer-only
farmers market through the winter season! The West Reading Farmers Market
moved its winter operations to the West Reading Fire Department. Look for
your favorite vendors and find out what they're doing to gear up for the summer
harvest! Starting May 7th, the West Reading Farmers Market returns to its
home, located on the 500 block of Penn Avenue and around the corner on
South 6th Avenue in West Reading.
Are you a farmer or retailer interested in becoming a vendor?
Visit lovewestreading.org for an application.

http://www.lovewestreading.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of West Reading Avenues Spring 2017