Lansdale Farmers' Market Makes Its Debut

Eager shoppers made their way to Railroad Avenue on Saturday in search of picking up locally-grown foods and supplies, courtesy of the first Lansdale Farmers' Market of the 2011 season.

Aiming to build on the successes of the past two years, newly-hired  manager Andrea Berger is quick to point out the diversity in this year's Farmers' Market.

"We have about 25 vendors, with some new and some returning from last year.  We've added a vendor this year who does a great selection of meats, cheeses and goat cheeses.  We also have an artisan baker, and a company that does cupcakes," said Berger. "We also have coffee, cinnamon rolls, and stuffed breads that people can pick up and eat while they walk around shopping."

The Lansdale Farmers' Market will run every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Railroad Avenue, parallel to the Lansdale train station.  This year's market will run nearly six months, with the final day of shopping currently slated for November 5th.  For a list of 2011 vendors, click here.

The 2011 Farmers' Market aims to make locally grown products readily available to area residents, while additionally seeking to drive home a sense of community.  Their goal is to make visiting the market a fun and  enjoyable experience, instead of typical grocery shopping which usually ends up feeling like a chore.

To aid in this effort, visitors will find things like a petting zoo, as well as new initiatives aimed at keeping the kids happy.

"Every third Saturday we're going to have a children's story time, combined with some type of arts and craft," said Berger.  "We're going to be having several unique events throughout the summer, so people should go to our website, so they can read about each event, as it's posted."

In its 2011 debut, the market saw a steady stream of residents, including a few familiar faces.  Officer Chad Bruckner from the Lansdale Police Department slowly strolled around, greeting residents and engaging in a variety of conversations. 

Bruckner said it's important for the police department to play an active role in community functions, and that the market was a great opportunity to get out and meet the people of Lansdale.  The children sure seemed to enjoy his presence, as he fielded a steady stream of questions about his job and his equipment.

Borough council president Matt West was also in attendance, along with his wife Emily, and his three sons Colin, Ian and Liam.  Emily West said she's a regular at the farmers' market.

"It's something I enjoy doing with the kids, and I like the food and I like the aura," said West.  "Since it's a short walk from our house, we come every Saturday.  The kids really like the crafts and snacks."

Our cameras were out and about for the Lansdale Farmers' Market.  Were you caught in our lens?  Check out the photo gallery to find out!

For more information, you can visit the Lansdale Farmers' Market website at http://www.lansdalefarmersmarket.org.  You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook.