Easton Farmers' Market kicks off Saturday

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/events/index.ssf/2012/05/easton_farmers_market_kicks_of.html FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES With the Easton Farmers' Market about to open for the 2012 season, the city is exploring ways to keep the market's visitors downtown. The market, which opens 9 a.m. Saturday, is a source of tourism, Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said. At a recent meeting, city council debated a parking incentive to encourage farmers market visitors to shop at downtown businesses. But council could not arrive on a mechanism for the incentive. Panto discussed allowing farmers market customers to purchase a discount pass for the city parking garage after a $15 purchase at the market, but farmers market vendors typically don't issue receipts. Also, if the idea is to keep shoppers downtown, Panto said, giving an incentive only to farmers market shoppers does not seem fair. “We’re giving them an incentive that we’re not giving the rest of the merchants,” Panto said. He suggested providing downtown businesses with a stamp to validate parking for customers. The city is studying its parking situation. A town-hall-style meeting 6:30 p.m. May 22 at the Crayola Experience will allow residents to comment on parking, and the idea of parking incentives could come back at that meeting or later on in the parking review. Meanwhile, with a high of 78 degrees forecast by the National Weather Service, the market's opening day of its 260th season promises to be a positive start. But even bad weather wouldn't stop vendors. “The market will be running rain or shine or snow or anything in between,” farmers market manager Megan McBride said. That means no inclement weather should stop the festival from happening 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday from now until the end of November. To city council, the event is a way to distinguish the city. “It’s not just we who are impressed, but people who don’t know anything about Easton,” said Councilwoman Elinor Warner. It is also a place for locals to buy fresh fruits and vegetables otherwise difficult to find in the city. After 2010, when the farmers market began allowing food stamps, market attendance spiked in 2011 by 20 percent, and vendor sales increased 20 to 50 percent, according to McBride, who attributed much of the boost to the food stamps. “We do have a lack of a grocery store, especially in the downtown,” McBride said. “We’re on the verge of being a food desert.” This year’s farmers market will feature 45 vendors, four of them new farms, an area for local artisans and crafters, and events such as a bacon festival in November, the market’s birthday extravaganza on July 7 and an art exhibition and auction.