Plum's Monday Market opens with new vendors, new opportunities

Plum’s Monday Market is open for its fourth season with several new vendors.

Hours are 3 to 7 p.m. nearly every Monday through the end of October at Plum Creek Park along New Texas Road.

There is no market on Memorial Day, July 5 and Labor Day.

“We grew it last year,” said market coordinator Mona Costanza. “I think now, as things start to get lifted, we’ll see more people getting out and participating.”

Some of the returning vendors include Kona Ice of Monroeville, Pappy’s Kettle Corn, Tom’s Candy, Oakmont Olive Oil Co., Bushy Run Winery and the Wax Mill.

Newcomers include Red Truck Mercantile, Beauty in You - Farmasi and Let Them Make Cake, owned by 1993 Plum graduate Jennifer Jones.

“I like to see people happy when they eat sweets,” Jones said. “Everyone’s miserable most of the time, but if you give them sugar, they’re always happy.”

Jones has various cookies, stuffed pizzelles and numerous cakes to choose from. Everything is made to be delicious and handled with care. That is certified by her father and retired Plum police Sgt. Ed Lackey.

Lackey served the borough for more than two decades and is now Jones’ “quality control officer.”

Monday’s market was her business’ big debut.

“It’s exciting,” Jones said. “I think that Plum is a great place to be. It’s a wonderful community and everybody’s really close. It’s nice to see everybody come out and get together.”

Farm vendors include Plum-based Bridge’s Farm and Greenhouses and Daugherty’s Orchards in Murrysville.

They mostly had flowers and some vegetable plants. More produce will be available as spring and summer move on.

John Daugherty said this is his second year at the borough market, and he is looking to build on past success.

“I try to do as many markets as I can,” he said. “Monday was the only day I wasn’t doing a market. We started out in July and it was a fairly good market, so we continued to come back. Right now, it seems like it’s pretty slow, but it’s opening day. As the summer goes on, we hope to see a lot more business.”

Daugherty’s grandfather, Ray, started the farm 1947.

They plan to bring apple cider, sweet corn, apples and pumpkins among other items in the next few months.

Daugherty’s mother, Lois, bakes pies such as cherry, blueberry, blackberry, peach and apple.

Jackie Breter and her daughter, Ali, 7, from Murrysville were among Daugherty’s market customers. They picked up some snapdragons and dianthus flowers.

They usually go to their hometown market and found out about Plum’s market via social media.

“So far, so good,” Breter said about Plum’s market. “It will be great to see more vendors once everything gets really going. Nice space, nice everything and areas for kids to play if you wanted to stay and eat.”

Ali said she loves farmers markets and playing on playgrounds. She selected the flowers.

Masks are optional for both guests and vendors.

Most vendors had masks on opening day.

Different food trucks are scheduled to take part at each market.

More information is available at the borough’s Facebook page or at plumboro.com.