The Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market will open for its 11th season on Sunday, May 1, 2016 with a return to a redesigned, improved Water Street Park (90 W. Water St., Hellertown), after a year of being temporarily relocated to the Hellertown Area Library.
There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. on opening day, with music provided by Cliff Cole, free gifts, and free dog treats provided by Pinky’s Pet Grooming Mobile Salon. Visitors will also be able to sign up for the annual Sunflower Contest sponsored by Lost River Caverns. Kindred Spirits Books & Gifts will be the featured business.
The 2016 market will be home to more than 40 vendors selling fresh produce, meat, eggs, cheese, juices, a wide variety of baked goods and prepared foods, flowers, herbs, plants, handmade crafts, soaps and many other specialty products produced locally.
Some vendors provide services, such as Howe Sharp Knife Sharpening.
In the vendor lineup for 2016 are the following businesses (including some which will be at the market selling crafts on Art in the Park Sundays). Links to websites or Facebook pages have been provided where possible.
- Annarella’s Bakery (Bethlehem) – Biscotti
- Apple Ridge Farm (Saylorsburg) – Artisan bread, produce and poultry
- Aunt Jack’s Real Home Bakery (Easton) – Cookies, cupcakes, sweet breads, cakes, pies
- Bechdolt’s Orchard (Hellertown) – Fruit (e.g. peaches and apples), vegetables, fruit butters, sauces, plants, flowers, cider, applesauce
- Blendlife (Bethlehem) – Smoothie bowls, hummus, “grill’wiches”
- Conner’s Saw Mill (Hellertown) – Custom-cut lumber, custom wood-cutting, slabs, table tops, artistic pieces and more
- Delightfully Irrational Desserts (Nazareth) – Scones, small pies
- Epic Acre Farm (Mertztown) – Chemical-free vegetables including carrots, potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, winter squash, beets
- Field Petals (Quakertown) – Freshly cut flowers, in season
- Flint Hill Farm Educational Center (Coopersburg) – Pasteurized duck and chicken eggs, Alpine goat’s milk, Jersey cow’s milk, artisan cheeses, yogurt, smoothies, fresh cream butter
- Freeland Market (Pottstown) – Fresh sausages
- Greenlioness (Allentown) – Green living cloths for cleaning, “unsponge” (sponge alternative), kitchen decor, hot pads, placemats, reusable shopping totes
- Heritage Farm (Nazareth) – Chicken, eggs, produce
- Holben Valley Farm (Weisenberg Township) – Grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, turkey, pork
- Hope Hill Lavender Farm (Pottsville) – Lavender
- Howe Sharp Knife Sharpening (Perkasie) – Mobile knife sharpening
- Kat’s Garden Gate Designs (Quakertown) – Hand-painted kitchen wares, birdseed treats and birdhouses
- Kitsachie Studio (Macungie) – Fused glass barrettes, pendants and pins, nature photography
- Lil Miss Organic (Allentown) – Organic, gluten-free prepared foods that are free of peanut, soy, corn and canola oil
- Maddie’s Doggie Bites (Hellertown) – Homemade dog biscuits and chews with no additives or preservatives
- Mainly Mushrooms (Buckingham) – Exotic wild-foraged and cultivated fresh mushrooms, dried mushrooms, truffle oils
- Marie’s Soap Company (Upper Bucks County) – All-natural, hand-crafted soaps
- Meadows Frozen Custard (Bethlehem and various) – Frozen custard
- Mediterra – Extra virgin olive oil, condiments, jams, olives, balsamic vinegar
- Moon Gate Farms (Perkasie) – Locally-grown, chemical-free produce
- OMG Smoothies (Bally) – Dairy-free, sugar-free, preservative-free smoothies made with organic fruit
- O Made Granola (Spotswood, N.J.) – Handcrafted, small-batch, GMO-free granola
- Painted From The Heart (Allentown) – Hand-painted wooden decorative pieces
- Peanut Butter & More (Easton) – Gourmet peanut butters
- Philos Farm (Schnecksville) – Vegetables
Rising Sun Coffee Roaster of Telford will return for the 2016 season of the Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, which is held in Hellertown’s Water Street Park from May through November.
- Ridge Valley Farm (Sumneytown) – Maple syrup
- Rising Sun Coffee Roaster (Telford) – Roasted coffee beans and ground coffee, fresh-brewed coffee
- Rolling Pin Pastries (Easton) – Cakes, pies, cookies, muffins, bread, pastries
- Rush Apiaries (Allentown) – Honey and related products
- Sal-Lee Farms (Bangor) – Meats
- S&S Sweetery (Quakertown) – Baked treats such as sticky buns, brownies, pineapple cakes, muffins, cupcakes, chocolate lollipops and chocolate-covered pretzels.
- Shankara Vegan Restaurant (Bethlehem) – Vegan foods
- The Coffee’s On – Handmade wreaths, floral arrangements, decorative items
- The Garden of Easton (Easton) – Plants, flowers
- The Pie Shop (Nazareth) – Kiffles
- The Popcorn Pit (Nazareth) – Kettle corn, mixed nuts
- The Wayfare Bakery (Bethlehem Township, Pa.) – Homemade pizza
- Tombler’s Home Bakery (Glendon) – Pasties and more
- Uncle Paul’s Stuffed Pretzels (Bloomsburg) – Stuffed pretzels
- Vivian’s Desk (Bethlehem) – Handmade purses, bags and accessories
- Warm Sugar Bakery (Bethlehem) – Designer sweets and handheld desserts
- Wasels Omelettes (Hellertown) – Omelets made from farm-fresh eggs, milk and cheese, using local farm-fresh ingredients.
- Werky’s Farms (Nazareth) – Fresh produce and free-range poultry and eggs
- Y Knot Alpacas (Germansville) – Yarn, hats, scarves, gloves, sweaters, capes, socks, apparel, gifts, home accessories
The market is held rain or shine, and free parking is available in the expanded parking lot at the park. Bike racks are also available, as are public restrooms.
Free musical entertainment is provided most weeks, and an “Art in the Park” event featuring local crafters is held the fourth Sunday of each month.
Other amenities within Water Street Park include:
- Playground
- Picnic tables
- Access to the Saucon Rail Trail
- Sand volleyball court
- Basketball court
- Water fountains
- Picnic pavilion
This year’s market premier sponsors are BB&T, Buy Fresh Buy Local, Heintzelman Funeral Home Inc. of Hellertown, Saucon Valley Manor and the Hellertown Diner.
Sponsors are Ashley Development, B&B Pools, Barry Isett and Associates, Coldwell Banker Hearthside Realtors, Frankie V’s Beer and Soda, Frey’s Better Foods, H&R Block, Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce, Hellertown Dental Group, Hellertown Family Chiropractic, Hellertown Historical Society, Hellertown Lions Club, JCL Automotive, Jim Gardner Agency-State Farm, the Law Office of David W. Tidd, the Law Offices of Mark P. Albright, Lighthouse Laundry on Main, Lost River Caverns, Lower Saucon Township Historical Society, McDonald’s of Hellertown, Physical Therapy at St. Luke’s, Saucon Valley Bikes, Saucon View Apartments, Saylor’s & Co. and Yogamos.
Friends include Matey’s Crossroads Hotel, DiMaio’s, Dunkin’ Donuts of Hellertown, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bethlehem, Saucon Source, Saucon True Value Hardware, Saucon Valley Insurance Services Inc., TGF Screenprinting, The Bug Company of PA, The Organic Mattress Store and YoFresh Yogurt Cafe of Hellertown.