Farmer's Market Under Way at Caste Village

Mondays in aren't the same in the summertime. Starting June 6, an annual will bring a bevy of entrepreneurs and customers to the Caste parking lot every Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. to sell and buy food goods, including homemade treats and fresh and often locally grown produce. The event runs through Oct. 24.

Rowdy BBQ Take-Out & Catering from nearby Brentwood Borough is one of the local businesses selling food at the farmer's market.

Rowdy BBQ is grilling grub in the parking lot, including burgers, pulled pork and chicken. Steve Kingsland, owner of Rowdy BBQ, said that customers can take his food home cold or eat it hot right at while they peruse the rest of the market.

Pork can be bought for $10 per pound.

Kevin Kern, of Kern Farms in Peters Township, said that his company also makes a weekly trip to Caste Village to take advantage of the farmer's market. Kern Farms is selling fresh fruit and vegetables, such as strawberries, cucumbers and onions.

"We've been coming here for the past two years since it's been in Caste and the previous one when it was up on (Route) 51," Kern said.

Kern said that he's hoping for big sales, even if just to save him some labor.

"We hope to do real well," he said. "We hope not to have to load it (the produce) all back up."

Laura Byler, who has been selling baked goods at the Whitehall Farmer's Market for three years now, travels all the way from Minerva, OH, each week, carrying cookies, pies and other treats along with her.

Sharing a booth with Byler are two ladies who are selling maple syrup from Carrollton, OH.

"I make them (the baked goods) myself," Byler said. "My (three) daughters help me."

Byler is selling specialty bread for $4.25 per loaf and cookies for $4.25 per dozen. She also has large pies for sale for $8 each and smaller ones for $4 each.

Whitehall Recreation Director Kelly Joyce could be seen walking around the market on Day One on Monday, double- and triple-checking the event's set-up.

"It's a lot of logistical work," Joyce said, "but, really, they (the vendors) do all of the physical work—the set-up and whatnot.

"It's a lot of planning—finding the right vendors, finding the right variety of people to be here—but it's worth it without a doubt. Every week, when I'm here and I see how many people are here and benefiting from it, it's definitely worth it ... 

"The vendors are really from everywhere. They come from all around. It's a great market. They love it, they love the people, the people love them, and they keep coming back."

Vendors rent a space from the borough for $250 for the entire season.

"Most of them make that back in a week," Joyce said.