New year-round farmers market opens in Carbondale on Sept. 9
From a press release:
A new market for fresh produce and local foods is coming to Carbondale.
With a grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation, United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania is opening a farmers market at its Fallbrook housing community (185 Fallbrook St., Carbondale). The year-round market will be open on Thursdays starting Sept. 9.
“Our goal is to make fresh, local food as accessible and affordable in Carbondale as it is at our South Side Farmers Market in Scranton,” said UNC Director of Community Revitalization Chrissy Manuel.
Since 2010, UNC has run the successful South Side Farmers Market in Scranton, bringing fresh, locally-grown food to an area that was designated a food desert by the USDA. The market is planning to make its healthy offerings available to all by accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and other vouchers for low-income seniors and families. The Carbondale Farmers Market aims to do the same.
“We’ve seen the benefits the South Side Farmers Market has had on the community, not only in offering local, fresh food, but also in the relationships between the farmers and customers and among community members. Customers learn about the food they eat and where it comes from while connecting with those who grow it and other members of their community,” Manuel noted.
The public is invited to the opening day event on Thursday, Sept. 9 from 2 p.m.-6 p.m., which will be its regular weekly hours moving forward. The Carbondale Farmers Market is currently accepting vendors; anyone interested can call program coordinator Emily Arcaro at 570-346-6203, ext. 118.
United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assessing and meeting the needs of low-income families, youth, senior citizens, and new immigrants in NEPA.
Since 1923, the agency has embraced its mission to work together with neighbors to provide services and create opportunities which empower individuals and build strong interdependent communities. The agency accomplishes this mission through five programmatic departments (Community Services, Children and Teens, Community Health and Aging, Community Education, and Community Revitalization) and a Housing/Community Development Corporation. Through this diverse programming, UNC uses an innovative wrap-around approach to address the emerging needs of the community it serves.
