Butler City Farmers’ Market opens with new vendors
There are many unofficial starts to summer.
The Butler City Farmers’ Market would be on that list, as it kicked off local Memorial Day festivities Saturday welcoming vendors offering all kinds of food and home products.
“I think everyone was ready for this,” Butler Mayor and Farmers’ Market manager Bob Dandoy said. “Everyone is ready for summer and to get all the goodies.”
The Butler City Farmers’ Market is at 209 South Chestnut St., and vendors started greeting customers at 8:30 a.m..
Rain came over the area early in the morning and continued off and on throughout the day, but that didn’t stop Dandoy or any of the vendors.
“I was just amazed today,” Dandoy said. “With it raining, I could only hope it would still be a good day.”
During the height of the pandemic, Dandoy said the farmers’ market would have trouble filling all the spots in the venue, but now he thinks in the coming weeks he might have a new problem.
“We would put tables up with coloring books for kids and ran all types of promotions,” Dandoy said. “Now I got too many vendors lined up. We are going to have to put some outside after a while.”
Spur Hollow Farm was one of the new vendors this year, and it quickly made a good first impression.
“It was a lot busier than I expected,” Jeff Stirland, of Spur Hollow Farm in Grove City, said. “We sell mostly naturally grown vegetables and pastured poultry. The local food business just continues to grow I feel. Western Pennsylvania has been great.”
The venue had many different smells drifting through it, including fresh food such as pulled pork and garden flowers.
Among the smells was Pittsburgh Artisanal Soap Co.'s homemade soaps and body care products
“This is a lovely location,” Laura Bogacz of Pittsburgh Artisanal Soap Co. said. “We have had about six sales already. We live in Gibsonia, and we love the small-town feel here.”
“The people are very positive,” her husband Mike Bogacz said. ”They love the smells of the products.“
The parking lot remained at maximum capacity during the early going, and those who showed up were excited to get in on the action.
New customers such as Beth and Jeff Orsborn came in with no clue what they were walking into, but were blown away with the selections.
“We have never been here before and just thought it would be a good way to start the day,” Beth said. “I was not sure how much produce they would have, but we are going to grab that and some meat while we are here.”
The farmers’ market will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Saturday through October, according to its Facebook page.
