Now that spring is finally here, the Phoenixville Farmers’ Market is thrilled to announce its opening day of its 10th season on May 7, 2011 under the Gay Street Bridge in downtown Phoenixville!
To celebrate its 10th season, they will open with a Festival of the Honey Bee. The market wishes to thank the Borough of Phoenixville for allowing the use of this location; it provides great space for their producers, protection from sun and rain, and also offers shade and grassy areas along French Creek.
The Market will be open every Saturday from 9 am until 1 pm, May 7 through November 19, providing the local, farm fresh food that their customers have come to value and enjoy.
The Phoenixville Farmers’ Market is a producer/grower market committed to building community in downtown Phoenixville, supporting local farms and preserving local agriculture, improving health through nutrition education, increasing access to fresh, nutritious food and encouraging the development of a local, sustainable economy
The opening day market will feature food and handmade products from a variety of local providers including:
- Coffee and cold drinks from Artisan’s Café
- Pasture-raised buffalo from Backyard Bison
- Local cheeses, veal & beef from Birchrun Hills Farm
- Beautiful flower arrangements from The Budding Moon
- Locally raised lamb from Canter Hill Farm
- Local vegetables from Charlestown Farm
- Pork products from Countrytime Farm
- Sweet potato pies from Dolly’s Dish
- Luscious soaps from Ellen April
- Produce and pork from Hoagland Farms
- Cupcakes from ICED by Betsy
- Produce, plants & eggs from Jack’s Farm
- Chocolates from John & Kira’s
- Local, Organic meals to go from LOST Gourmet
- Locally milled flour from The Mill at Anselma
- Gourds & Birdhouses from The Mitchell Program
- Fruit popsicles from Mompops
- Poultry and eggs from Mountain View Poultry
- Mushrooms from Oley Valley Mushrooms
- Bread & baked goods from St. Peter’s Bakery & Cafe
- Goat cheese & products from Shellbark Hollow Farm
- Goats milk soap from Spotted Hill Farm
- Breads, rolls & granola from Sweetwater Baking Co.
More providers, new and old, will join the market as their crops come into season. A complete list of providers can be found on their website by clicking here.
They have great plans for opening day on May 7th, thanks to a collaborative effort with the Colonial Theatre, Kimberton Whole Foods, and the Chester County Beekeepers Association. The Market will host a Festival of the Honey Bee in honor of these tireless insect workers who pollinate our food while giving us delicious sweet honey.
The Festival is part of a week-long celebration including a lecture and workshop, and screenings of Queen of the Sun, a moving and insightful documentary about the honey bee, at the Colonial Theatre. On Saturday, May 7th, the Colonial will host a special screening of the movie at 2pm, followed by a question and answer session with Gunther Hauk, one of the main characters in the film. Shoppers can come to the Market, stay in town for lunch at one of the many great restaurants Phoenixville has to offer, and then take in the movie.
- Honey pots de crème from LOST Gourmet
- Honey, Beeswax candles, beeswax skin care products, bee pollen from Baues’ Busy Bees
- Honey sweetened popsicles using Walt’s Swarmbustin’ Honey and BeeWell Pops that are immune boosting with Bee Pollen and Vitamin C from Mompops
- A new Lavender Honey soap from Ellen April Soap
- Honey Granola and Honey infused whole wheat bread from St. Peters’ Bakery & Café
- Blue Cheese paired with honey from Birchrun Hills Farm
- Honey Bee Caramels from John and Kira’s
- It’s Nutty, Honey! - A honey and oatmeal cake filled with a sweet honey peanut butter center. Frosted with peanut butter buttercream and topped with sweet & salty peanuts and a drizzle of fresh local honey from ICED By Betsy
Music for the Festival will be provided by Sarkissan and Sheen, interspersed with talks about bees. The complete schedule is as follows:
- 9am Alyssa Fine, The 2012 Pennsylvania Honey Queen arrives at the Market. Music by Sarkissan and Sheen begins
- 10am Alyssa Fine will give a talk about bees & honey
- 10:30am Dave Baus will give a talk about beekeeping
- 11am A special puppet show about bees by the Marionette Theater of the Stars
- 12 Rosemary Baues will give a talk about the health and medicinal benefits of honey
Throughout the day there will be plenty of fun activities for families and children:
- Children will make beeswax flowers, butterflies and bees with help from Sheltering Arms
- A clown will roam the Market entertaining shoppers
- Face painters will be on hand
- There will be a BEE Trail along the French creek trail full of fun facts about honey and bees
In addition to their regular vendors, there will be bee themed items for sale as well as informational tables about beekeeping, composting, gardening and much more. Many of their artists will be at the Market with perfect gifts for Mothers’ Day. Some of the artisans and organizations who are coming include:
- Chester County Beekeepers Association
- Chester County Master Gardeners
- Chester County Master Composters
- Gunther Hauk, Spikenard Farm Honeybee Sanctuary – Center for Sustainable Beekeeping
- The Cobb Studio – pottery including honey pots and dippers
- The Camel’s Hump – locally made rain barrels
- Abide – organic fabric bags and textiles printed with bee and nature themes
- Sugarbush Nursery – bee friendly plants
- Su Gould – Bee themed stamped papercrafts
- Sidestitch by Ginny – floral aprons
- Christine Shirley Styling Co. – accessories using vintage materials
- Reis Renditions – handwoven baskets, clocks, desk accessories, and jewelry, mad from natural wood and stones.
- Pure Scents Candle Company – 100% Soy wax candles including some special creations using honey
In keeping with its mission to build community, the market also presents music at the market featuring local musicians each Saturday beginning at 10 am. On the Second Saturday of each month, local artists join them to sell unique, locally made functional art. Phoenixville Hospital joins the market on the third Saturday of each month to provide health education and FREE blood pressure screenings.
The market is always family-friendly – providing a children’s area at the Market Information table each week with books, toys, and crafts.
Customers can find out about what’s happening at the market by joining the email list on market’s website, visit by clicking here. You can also find them on Facebook by clicking here or on Twitter, by clicking here.