Lower Burrell farmers market kicks off with fun, food — all of it local

The Joseph “Bud” Myers Lower Burrell Farmers Market kicked off Saturday with its expanded slate of vendors and activities, and organizers say there’s more to come as spring rolls into summer.

“We crushed it,” said Monte Smith, who was selling goods for Vibo’s Italian Bakery.

He said they sold out of everything they’d initially brought and then nearly sold out of the second round of baked goods he had brought out to the market.

“A lot of people come through (the famers market),” he said. “We always do well here, rain or shine.”

The market, set up on Schreiber Street in the city hall parking lot, will boast between 13 and 18 vendors depending on the week. In past years, the market featured around eight vendors.

Organizers say the hope is to continue to grow the farmers market and perhaps move to larger location in the coming years.

Carly Logan, one of the market’s coordinators, said she was pleased with the turnout, particularly on an overcast day with the threat of rain.

The goal, she said, is to keep the momentum.

“This is for the community,” she said. “All of the research I’ve done says that a farmers market drives demand for brick and mortar.”

Logan said she made it a point to advertise the market on Facebook, and she said it seems to have worked.

Jena Walker, of Leechburg, said she saw an advertisement for the market on Facebook an decided to check it out with her kids, 2-year-old Charlotte and 6-year-old Logan.

Children’s activities were one of the things Logan and her co-coordinator, Pam Key, wanted to make sure they included in the expanded farmers market.

They have big plans for the rest of the summer, too.

Some weeks will feature live music, and some vendors who can’t be there every Saturday will alternate with other vendors. Plans are in the works for a Christmas in July celebration and an Oktoberfest to close out the summer.

“What wouldn’t make you want to come out here today?” said Brandy Grieff, of Lower Burrell. She and daughter Harper, 6, went home with a plethora of petunias and other plants from one of the vendors.

“It’s amazing,” she said.

Lisa Green, of South Buffalo, brought her grandchildren: Penny Fuhrman, 6, and Daisy Fuhrman, 4.

“We’ve come out before in years past,” she said. “We just really enjoy it.”