Myerstown hosts weekly farmers market

The Myerstown Vitality Partnership held the second Myerstown Farmers Market in the parking lot of the community center, at 101 S. Railroad St., from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday.

The market will be open every other Friday until Oct. 3 (June 27, July 11 and 25, August 8 and 22, September 5 and 19, and October 3).

MVP business development consultant Seth Miller said the market is open to all farmers, businesses, and artisans looking to sell goods, whether those are homegrown vegetables, specialty food goods, or handmade products like soap or art.

“We are doing this to support and empower our local businesses,” he said, explaining that the event is intended to make “a really accessible and affordable market space, not only to benefit Myerstown, but benefit everybody in the area.”

For prospective vendors, Miller said, a 10×10-foot space starts at $20. The event is free to attendees, with parking available in the other community center lot.

“I think with the area we’re in, having so much agriculture and so much produce and everything like that accessible, having a space in the area really makes it worthwhile,” he said. Explaining that the MVP also has a space and interacts with attendees, he said, “It’s just another good way for the MVP itself to get out and do some good for our community.”

Friday’s weather was fair, and at around 4 p.m., several vendors said they were hopeful more attendees would arrive later in the evening.

“It’s a new market, so going into it I don’t expect to see super busy results right away,” said Matt Zechman of Cleona Coffee Roasters. “I’d say this one went really well; overall, I’d say this is good, and I expect it’ll get busier.”

Caitlyn Gibbel of Fantasyland Farms, based in Robesonia, said she was thankful for opportunities to sell fresh produce directly to customers.

“It’s not super known so far, but for a first year event I think it’s gone really well,” she said. “Vendors need to be willing to take a chance on first-year events because if they don’t, it’ll never become a second-year event.”

Other vendors Friday sold goods ranging from jewelry to homemade cookies to potted vegetable plants.

The market is also attended by representatives of public services or nonprofits, Miller explained.

From 5 to 7 p.m., the Myerstown Library does Storytime for kids at the event. This week, the Myerstown Senior Center set up to share information.

Last week, Miller said, Lebanon Transit brought a bus to the event and highlighted plans to establish a bus route to the Myerstown area, something that has been floated to Myerstown Borough Council.

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