We love an old-fashioned picnic, complete with grabbing some fresh produce or a few snacks and beverages to tote to a local park or a shaded hideaway spot, throwing down a blanket and relaxing while soaking up an afternoon in the great outdoors.
It’s still early in the season (and most pesky bugs are still at bay), so dig out your favorite picnic basket or cooler and take a stroll with us through the sights, aromas and feeling of community by perusing the booths and tents with the local folks of the Kennett Square Farmers Market.
“We have a wonderful variety of farms, bakeries and vendors that have all your picnic needs,” says market manager Cailin Catarius. “Our producers are knowledgeable, diverse and most of all friendly and willing to invite you to take advantage of true farm-to-table goodness.”
Black Walnut Winery
Located in Sadsburyville and owned and operated by the Castle and the Kuhn families, this winery is expert at blending award-winning varietals. Try one of the precisely crafted summer wines that include the crisp Sauvignon Blanc 2013, the slightly sweet Bank Barn Red or the barely sweet blush, Sassy, made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio and Cayuga grapes. Paired with cheeses or fruit, any of these wines are perfect for a sultry afternoon.
Big Sky Bread
Based in north Wilmington, this purveyor of baked whole grain products doles out rip-into-and-devour breads. The freshly baked loaves include French baguettes, Italian peasant, rustic sourdough, English muffin, raisin challah and spinach feta—all perfect to dip into herbed olive oil or to slather with some sweet lavender butter.
Meadowset Farm & Apiary
This small 30-acre sheep and dairy farm run by Tom and Barbara Schaer is located in southern Chester County and practices sustainable farming with a focus on producing aged cheeses. Small batch cave-aged cheeses include the Alpine-style Last Straw, the toma-style washed curd Camel’s Back and the younger First Bite with a natural rind that protects a rich creamy inside. Grab a jar of their honey for drizzling too!
Big Hill Ciderworks
No honest picnic would be complete without some thirst-quenching cider from the creative team of Troy Lehman and Ben Kishbaugh of Big Hill Ciderworks. Nestled within Adams County, these guys have been hand-crafting the golden essence since spring 2013. Make sure to get your hands on some Summer Scrumpy seasonal, year-round Standard or deliciously blended Little Round Hop to pair perfectly with cheeses, breads and even a stick of salami or pepperoni.
Flying Plow Farm and Rambling Roots Farm
Seasonal fruits and veggies from these farms are always stuffed in our baskets when trekking outdoors. Apples of every kind, ramps, garlic, salad greens, tomatoes, radishes and a long list of herbs are but a few of the goodies up for grabs from these favorite locals.
Jack’s Gourmet Jam & Jelly
Throw a jar or two of these hand-made jams, jellies and butters in that picnic basket. Jack has sweet jams, pepper jams, no sugar jams and fruit butters—most produced in his kitchen with ingredients from his own backyard. All are priced right at $4 for an 8 oz. jar and are spreadable on just about everything.
A Taste of Puebla
Hand-cut gluten free corn chips and renowned guacamole and salsas are reason enough to sit under a tree, hold hands with your date, read a book or ponder life’s mysteries. Trust us on this one—you have to dip into these local favorites. Family-owned and -operated from their restaurant in the borough, these guys are bringing the best Mexican cuisine to all areas of Chester County.
Sunset Park Cookies
Top off your outdoor excursion with something sweet, decadent, gluten free and vegan from this father/daughter team of West Grove natives. Choose from chocolate chip, molasses spice, oatmeal raisin and, our favorite indulgence, the snickerdoodle. You might even have a few of these smartly and conveniently packaged treats left over after your picnic. Yeah, right.
Located at E. State St. between Broad and Union Sts., the market is open on Fridays from 2–6 p.m. As with most farmers’ markets, producers rotate occasionally, so be sure to check for the latest updates on Facebook and Instagram.
- Photography: Ed Williams
