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Salem Farmers Market cultivates family pride
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Patrick, 9, Abigail, 7, and Katherine, 3 sell their familie's homemade maple syrup with their mother Mary Wolfgang, of Hanoverton. Their first customer of the day, Lou Markovich of Salem said his favorite local product at the market is the syrup.
By CHELSEA WEIKART
SALEM
“Farmers market” might be an all-too-simple way to sum up what happens every Saturday morning on State Street in downtown Salem.
The 4-year-old Salem Farmers Market is a free event for both the customers and the vendors who sell not just fresh produce but also homemade soaps, lotions, jewelry, pies and maple syrup Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from May to October.
The grass-roots market is an effort by 31-year-old-founder Josh Furlong of Salem to bring a service to the city. He says he wanted to teach his daughter that where food comes from is important. He also wanted to do something that would leave a bit of a legacy for her to be proud of.
Furlong is proud of what the market has to offer with at least seven regular vendors who all offer their hobby for the public to buy.
“People that tend to have a smaller farm have more of a labor of love,” he said. “The taste is definitely an improvement compared to the supermarkets. They are growing it for the customer.”
Mike and Becky Minamyer of New Waterford, owners of NewMe’s Pies Unlimited, bring a sample of their products such as fresh fruit pies and pie-crust cookies to the market every week and have been doing so for three years.
Another local family, the Wolfgangs from Hanoverton, bring their maple syrup. Mary Wolfgang hopes the effort will help her four children start a college fund. The Wolfgangs along with the other vendors have regular customers whom they are getting to know.
For example, Nick Bush of Salem is a weekly customer of the market. As he approaches the pie stand, the Minamyers know him and begin to catch up. This week, however, he is without his son. The Minamyers say they have watched his son grow throughout the years.
“We’ve made friends with the people that come to the market,” said Beckie Minamyer.
The farmers’ market has shrunk slightly from previous years, according to Furlong, due mostly to the expense involved in advertising. He said the market expenses come directly out of his pocket. There have been donations in the past, but not as many know about the market as he would like.
“It’s tough to compete with Walmart. They have really hurt the local farmer. We want to give locals a chance to get out there again,” he said.
The market continues until the last week in October, when vendors will be selling pumpkins, cornstalks, hay bales and other fall items.