There’s nothing like tasting freshly made honey packaged by local beekeepers in Adams County, relishing sweet blueberries that grow in the fields near Gettysburg or biting into flavorful cheese made from cows on local farms.
At the Gettysburg Farmers’ Market, you have the opportunity to delve into the freshest products available created by our neighbors in Adams County.
The market recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, honoring its customers and vendors for making it such a continued success.
In the beginning, produce and various items were sold from the back of pick-up trucks that parked around Gettysburg Square, said James Dubbs, vice president of Gettysburg Farmers’ Market.
Today, the process has become more specialized, as each vendor has their own creations they stick to. “It’s become more sophisticated over time,” Dubbs said.
For example, Hollabaugh Bros. has been part of the market since its inception, Dubbs said, selling homegrown fruits and vegetables. Another long-lasting vendor is Gettysburg Gardens, which grows its own assortments of plants to beautify one’s garden.
Although Dubbs is the vice president of the market, he and his wife, Johanna, also own and operate Jo’s Bakery. For the past six years, the couple has run a stand at the Gettysburg Farmers’ Market selling their goodies. It’s no surprise Dubbs is a strong believer in the market’s mission.
“The person standing there is the one who does the farming, baking or bee keeping,” Dubbs said. “It’s not like the bigger markets where you’re unloading crates of bananas and pineapples out of a truck.”
So what sets this market apart from others?
Besides the freshest products at a good price, the market prides itself in being committed to customer relationships. “We know a lot of customers by their first name,” Dubbs said.
Each year, the number of vendors varies from about 15 to 20, offering customers everything from cheese to soaps.
So from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday, it’s worth rising early to check out what your local shops and farms have to offer.
What’s more, the Gettysburg Farmers Market is 100 percent run by its vendors. Every job functions because of its members, Dubbs said.
“When I say we exist on merit, I mean that,” he said. “The plan is always just to get people top-notch products at a reasonable price and to be friendly and welcoming. That takes care of everything else.”
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Find the Gettysburg Farmers’ Market at the Gettysburg Square from April 30 through October 29; phone (717) 776-9475.
- Jo's Bakery photo: Jo's Bakery
- Featured homepage photo: PicJumbo
- Remaining photos: Gettysburg Farmers' Market
