‘Back to normal’: Bethel Park farmers’ market returns on Tuesdays
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Now, that’s more like what everyone wants to see.
After a first-week mulligan of sorts thanks to Mother Nature, the Bethel Park Recreation Farmers’ Market experienced a proper opening in the sunny conditions that organizers hope to see on plenty a Tuesday afternoon this season.
“We are back to normal here at the market,” Lindsey Sibert said in between greeting visitors. “We have a ton of returning vendors and lots of new vendors. And so far, so good. Everybody’s really excited and really happy to see us back. We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from customers.”
Sibert is market coordinator this year, overseeing an event that operated the past two summers through a variety of covid-related limitations. The sky, too, seemed to dump an inordinate amount of precipitation when market day rolled around, resulting in at least one total cancellation even though the market generally is rain or shine.
“We are hoping to bring it back to the full experience, where people can sit down, have a place to eat, listen to some music, things like that,” Sibert said. “We’ve been sending out a weekly newsletter to let everybody know who’s going to be here and what kind of food they can expect.”
Those with certain food preferences or requirements can expect the likes of plant-based and gluten-free offerings from some of the vendors.
“We get a lot of feedback from customers, and we’ve had people ask,” Cathy Muscato said. “And I’ve had vendors approach me. So it was a perfect scenario. We didn’t have to really beat the bushes for them.”
Muscato retired from her position as Bethel Park’s assistant recreation director just a few days before the market’s May 3 opening. But she continues to support what she helped build as one of the premier seasonal destinations for people seeking to support local entrepreneurs, including, of course, farmers.
“It’s nice to be able to talk to the people about what you’re buying, and they can really help guide you to some things you might not otherwise try,” she said, and she knows from experience. “A couple of years ago, I started buying vegetables that I don’t normally buy, and they were teaching me how to use kohlrabi or radishes.”
Held from 4 to 7 Tuesdays through September in the parking lot at Corrigan and 100 Acres drives in South Park, the Bethel Park market features about 50 vendors appearing weekly, every other week or once a month. Other attractions include musical performances and periodic crafts for children.
During the 2022 season Owen Chaffin of Boy Scout Troop 510 will be at the market to work on his Eagle service project, collecting items and money on behalf of the Pittsburgh Prison Book Project, which provides reading materials and funds for postage for incarcerated people throughout Pennsylvania.
For more information about the Bethel Park Recreation Farmers’ Market, visit www.bethelparkfarmersmarket.com.