Hampton accepting vendor applications for farm market

During the covid-19 pandemic, Laura Bogacz, 50, was laid off from her job. Since she “didn’t have anything else to lose,” she decided to open Pittsburgh Artisanal Soap Co. and pursue her hobby of making handmade natural soap full-time.

Last year, Bogacz started selling her wares at the Hampton Farmers Market, which she said was “a wonderful experience” that helped expand her business and connect with the community — something she encourages other people who sell handmade items or local produce to sign up for.

“I’ve gotten to know a lot of the other vendors, and we all form connections with each other and tell each other about other events we should go to or things like that,” she said. “It has really become a sense of community to me, and I’m looking forward to going back and seeing customers from last year that I haven’t talked to over the winter.”

Hampton Township is accepting vendor applications for this year’s farmers market. Entering its fifth year, the market is held rain or shine every Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. June 7 to October 11 at the Hampton Community Park. Applications are due April 30, and there’s no fee to apply.

Bill Ryder, assistant parks and recreation programs administrator, said vendors must carry liability and product insurance, and hold required Allegheny County Health Department and state permits. He said he also is looking for acoustic musicians or other forms of “family-friendly entertainment” to perform at the markets. Typically, about 12 to 13 vendors participate in the season, he added.

“The market is a great place for shoppers to access fresh and local product at the peak of the growing season,” he said, as well as “for businesses to showcase home-grown or fresh baked products.”

Frank Mazzotta, the owner of Mazzotta Winery, said the form is “very simple” and “only takes a couple minutes to fill out.” Mazzotta, 63, plans to sign up again this year to sell his wine, wine slushies and non-alcoholic wine slushies for the kids. He’s participated in the Hampton market since it started in 2019.

What keeps him coming back, Mazzotta said, is the “little community” he’s created with the other vendors who are now friends. When there’s no one at his booth, Mazzotta enjoys talking to the other vendors and shopping for goodies and local produce, such as lettuce and tomatoes.

“It’s not like you’re always going to make a lot of money at these things. Sometimes you do make, and sometimes you don’t,” he said. “But you get to see a lot of the people. The people running for office always come through, and you get everybody that’s running for office because they’re talking to everybody.”

For more information, visit hampton-pa.org/316/Farmers-Market.