Newtown PA Dutch Farmer's Market Celebrates Autumn

By Debra Forman

Now is the perfect time to head to the Newtown PA Dutch Farmer’s Market and dive a wide array of comfort food while the cool breezes of autumn are blowing.

The bustling market, located at 2150 Eagle Road in Newtown, is a group of indoor shops that offer wall-to-wall comfort food items and desserts that one can sit down and enjoy in the market or take home to share for lunch or dinner with family and friends.

From the hand-rolled pretzels and creamy cole slaw, to the ribs that fall off the bone, and mouth-watering candy, there is something to awaken and delight every one of the senses.

This is what happens with regulars, and new customers, when they come to the Newtown Farmer’s Market; open each week Thursdays 9-6, Fridays 9-7 and Saturdays, 9-4.

On Saturday, October 29, starting at 9 a.m. there will be the last Pig Roast of the season.

People come from near and far to enjoy some of the refreshing Amish culture and traditions. There are several generations of family members, parents pushing strollers, co-workers out to lunch, and friends coming to enjoy the scrumptious foods.

Mahlon Esh, Aaron's Fresh Country Meats/, runs the Pig Roast as he has for the past seven months of the year, and encourages everyone to come early to enjoy the roast.

“My late grandfather, Aaron, started the pig roast the second year the market was open,” Esh explained. . “Now it is a great tradition that everyone looks forward to.”

Aaron’s Fresh Country Meats sells fresh, high-quality ground beef, ground turkey, steaks, bacon, sausages and other meat products to cook for a family of four or 40

Many of the vendors have been selling their items in the Newtown Farmer’s Market for 20 years; while others took over their business from relatives or previous shop owners.

The hard-working Amish vendors, who reside in Lancaster and travel to Newtown to sell their home-made wares, pretzels, cheese, salads, BBQ, poultry, pot pies, meats, candy, bread, cakes, pudding and other desserts.

What makes the Newtown Farmer’s Market so unique is that in an age of minimal customer service, the hard-working market shop owners and their staff are providing friendly service. Coupled with the variety of items, freshness and quality, it is a crowd pleaser. Customers say they leave the market “happy and well fed.”

While roaming around the market be sure to look for the hand-rolled pretzels and pretzel sandwiches as well as Goodnoe ice cream at Barbie's Soft Pretzels ,the blueberry pancakes and wide range of salads and desserts at Smucker's Fresh Salads, the tender BBQ ribs, chicken, wings, and variety of side dishes at Zook's BBQ Barn, and the Halloween candy as well as spices, bulk items and more at Dutch Treats.

One of the regulars, John Crane, a Newtown sales engineer comes to the Newtown Farmer’s Market with his wife, every week.

“I work at home on Friday, so I am here for a lunch of smoked chicken wings, and then I shop around,” Crane explained. “You can’t compare this to a typical grocery store; it’s more like a family market. Everything is so fresh and the people here know all about the items they are serving. I look forward to coming back again and again."

[For further information go to: www.newtownfarmersmarket.com]