Shoppers Buy Season's Finest at Penn Street Market
READING (September 30) --- Apples, pears, potatoes, and more of the season's fruits
and vegetables bring color to the farmer vendor stands at Penn Street Market, an outdoor
market located in the 800 block of the City of Reading. The Market will be open two
more Fridays, closing on October 7th. Last week's rain didn't dampen the farmer
vendors' enthusiasm to come downtown to offer residents and workers the opportunity to
purchase their specialties, including fresh fruits and vegetables by Zimmerman's Family
Farms; cheese, raw milk, yogurt, eggs, breads and granola by Moses Martin; and
organically raised leafy greens and plants by Reading Roots Urban Farm.
Bob Hassler
Musician Robert Hassler will be performing blues, country music and playing his solarpowered
electric kazoo at this week's Penn Street Market between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Customers can enjoy his music while savoring an ice cream cone, milk shake, or some of
the delicious baked goods that Way-Har Farms brings to Market. Lunch will be served
up this week by Philly Pretzel Factory, with their fresh pretzels, hot dog pretzels, cheese
steak pretzels, drinks, and frozen lemonade.
Manor at Market Square will be offering free blood pressure testing for customers
attending the market. Kids can get a free and temporary tattoo courtesy of the
independent living facility located next door to the Penn Street Market.
"We love having Manor at Market Square involved in the market," said Sheila Miller,
Berks County's Agricultural Coordinator. "Last Sunday they hosted a community
carnival at the market to help raise awareness on the health benefits of buying fresh, local
produce. We are grateful for their donations to the Market and look forward to their
involvement in 2012."
Customers at Penn Street Market have the opportunity to use Access cards which allow
eligible senior citizens and limited income customers to purchase food items from the
farmer vendors. Access cards can be used to purchase any food items intended to be
eaten at home, explained Miller. "The new wireless machine allows people to utilize the
food and nutrition program called SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
--- formerly the Food Stamp Program." Miller said. All four farmer vendors at the Penn
Street Market have SNAP eligible food and are participating in the program. Purchases
are made using tokens purchased and redeemed only at the Penn Street Market.
Miller noted that the Farm Market Nutrition Program paper coupons can be redeemed for
fresh fruits and vegetables at two of the farm market vendors --- Zimmerman's Family
Farms and Reading Roots Urban Farm. This program assists senior citizens and limited
income families. For eligibility questions, Miller suggests people contact local Office of
Aging, or the Women, Infants and Children (W.I.C.) benefits office. Information can
also be found at the Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center website at www.pahunger.org.
For more information about becoming a vendor or the Penn Street Market, contact Berks Agricultural Coordinator Sheila
Miller at 610-898-5482 or go to www.pennstreetmarket.org.