<\/p>\n
PITTSTON \u2014 Harold Golomb of Golomb\u2019s Farm, Plains Township, has been pitching the family farm\u2019s tent at Pittston going back as far as the mid-1970s to his recollection. The Golombs are one of the main staples of the city\u2019s farmers market each year.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the Golombs, as well as another perennial at the Downtown Pittston event, Brace\u2019s Orchard, were back again for another opening day of the City of Pittston Farmer\u2019s Market presented by Community Bank.<\/p>\n
Documentation on the beginnings of the farmer stands was difficult to find, but Golomb recalls that Downtown Wilkes-Barre was created right after the Agnes Flood in 1972.<\/p>\n
\u201cWilkes-Barre started their market in \u201973 or \u201974,\u201d Golomb recalled. \u201cI know Pittston started after that, let\u2019s say \u201975, \u201976, or \u201977, it\u2019s hard to recall exactly, but I\u2019m sure that\u2019s about the time it started in Pittston.<\/p>\n
Golomb said the early days of Pittston farmers market started at the site of the present-day Burger King\/CVS Pharmacy lot along Kennedy Boulevard. Eventually, the market faded until it was brought back in 2011 under the administration of then-mayor Jason Klush.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe look for another good season at Pittston,\u201d Golomb added. \u201cWe always have a good turnout of customers here. Val D\u2019Elia started the farmer\u2019s market all those years ago because he wanted to push local tomatoes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Golomb\u2019s Farm grows flowers in addition to vegetables, and Golomb said his family farm is currently pushing flowers and is a little behind on the vegetables. He said all spring vegetables have been planted, and he is optimistic they will have a great growing season.<\/p>\n
Mary Kroptavich, City of Pittston\u2019s Main Street manager, said she\u2019s inclined to agree with Golomb saying longtime Pittston civic leader, Maria Capolarella-Montante played a role in creating a farmers market along with strong evidence Wil Toole served as the original chairman of the farmers market.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been interesting to see the market grow, especially over the last eight years that I\u2019ve been involved,\u201d Kroptavich said. \u201cWhen I first started, there was Golombs, Braces, the popcorn and the bread people, and now I have to turn vendors away.\u201d<\/p>\n
The City of Pittston Farmers Market is held each week on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through November.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d love to see the market get bigger, but we have space issues,\u201d Kroptavich added. \u201cMaybe if we put some of the vendors on the sidewalks like we do for the 2nd Friday Art Walk each month. It\u2019s an idea, but it may be hard to implement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kroptavich said she enjoys the Farmers Market because it\u2019s for everyone, making it a great summer event.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like that the farmers want to stay right before Thanksgiving,\u201d Kroptavich said. \u201cThe hardcore people like Braces, Golombs, Dymonds, Beta Bread, they are here, year after year, rain or shine, it doesn\u2019t matter, they show up.\u201d<\/p>\n
One new vendor in its second year at the City of Pittston Farmers Market is Farley Farms of Lycoming Co., PA, which sells farm-raised beef, chickens, and pigs and delivers freshly frozen meats.<\/p>\n
\u201cFarley Farms drives 90 minutes to get here, and that\u2019s the type of vendors we have at our farmer\u2019s market,\u201d Kroptavich said. \u201cThis is their third year back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carl Farley of Farley\u2019s Farms said the first year was not the best initially at the Pittston Farmers Market, but decided stay with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very, very difficult to sell meat on a very hot sidewalk or paved parking lot in July when it\u2019s 90 degrees,\u201d Farley said. \u201cYou have to build a customer base, they have to know you, they have to know how you take care of stuff, and in the second year, it took off here in Pittston. We have a real great following here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kroptavich said there will be special events held during the Farmers Market during the course of the summer, including weekly live music and Kids\u2019 Day.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne thing I\u2019d like to mention, we welcome SNAP\/EBT recipients here at the Farmers Market,\u201d Kroptavich said. \u201cWe have a representative on site where you can purchase tokens for all the fresh produce here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kroptavich said the city is working with the CEO to help people sign up for SNAP, and that may happen in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
For information on Pittston Farmers Market, visit its Facebook page or downtownpittston.com.<\/p>\n
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