New Farmers' Market
By: Laura Hartog
Updated: June 7, 2012
The Blair County Conservation District and the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy are partnering with a number of partnering organizations to bring a new farmer's market into an area of Altoona considered to be a food desert by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The new market will be part of the USDA Agricultural Management Service Farmers Market Promotion Program. The goal of the program is to bring fresh foods into more of our neighborhoods.
Folks can visit the new Juniata Farmers' Market in the old Sheetz parking lot at 512 N. 4th Avenue in Juniata. The market will be open every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Opening day is Thursday, June 7 and the market will remain open until the end of November.
Some of the produce at the market will include seasonal fruits and vegetables, cheese, fresh herbs, wine samples, mushrooms, fresh cut flowers, soap, beef, chicken, and goat meat. Produce and vendors will continue to grow as the farmers obtain the necessary paperwork and insurances. Residents are encouraged to stop by and see what some of our local farmers have to offer.
The long running farmers' market at Heritage Plaza will continue on Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Hollidaysburg Farm and Craft market will be held from July 10 to October 30 next to the diamond on Montgomery Street. The Hollidaysburg market will be open on Tuesdays 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Some of the most notable partners who worked on the new Juniata market include the ABCD Corp., the Intermunicipal Relations Committee, Blair County Chamber of Commerce, Sheetz Inc., Stan Sheetz, Bill Thompson, Quantum Health & Wellness, Altoona Hospital, Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Penn State Master Gardeners, and Blair County Home Nursing.
For more info or questions please call Beth Futrick at 814-696-0877 ext 113 or email bfutrick@blairconservationdistrict.org
