By Mary Therese Biebel , Wilkes-Barre Times Leader
Farmers ready to bring bounty to opening day
WILKES-BARRE — The O’Malia brothers were already enjoying spinach from their Plains Township farm last week — in omelets and sandwich wraps — and they expect to have more of the fresh green leaves to bring to downtown Wilkes-Barre when the Farmers Market opens on Thursday.
“Gary and I were talking about it and it looks like we’ll have spinach, radishes and kohlrabi,” Larry O’Malia said. “We’ll probably have red beets and Swiss chard, too, and I like to bring a lot of flowers for the first few weeks.”
At Golomb’s Greenhouse in Wilkes-Barre, Harold Golomb said he anticipates bringing sugar snap peas, zucchini and squash, with potted herbs, flowers and salad greens as extra possibilities.
“We’ll have kale, kohlrabi — and the broccoli should be ready,” said Jen Broyan from Broyan’s Farm Market in Nescopeck. “And, possibly, strawberries.”
Speaking of red fruit, Lind Mancinelli said she expects to have plenty of freshly picked sweet cherries at the Brace’s Orchard stand.
The stand should also be stocked with several varieties of apples from last season. “The Spy and Ida Red are good for pies,” she said. “The Cameos and Yellow Delicious are good for eating.”
Brace’s most popular item — the apple cider doughnuts — will be available, along with pies, caramel apples and fresh-pressed apple cider, honey and apple butter.
“We’re looking forward to coming on Mondays, too,” Mancinelli said, referring to the announcement that the Farmers Market will expand to Mondays as well as Thursdays this year, starting July 10.
Farmers Market hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the market is set to continue through Nov. 16.
As the growing season progresses, visitors to the Farmers Market can expect the available produce to change. The Farmers Market is also a good place to find baked goods, candy, organic meats and eggs.
The “Music at the Market” schedule, as announced on the city’s website, includes the Jeanne Zano Duo on opening day followed by Broken Road Duo on July 6; Empire in Decline on July 13, Jam Box on July 20, Windfall on July 27, Mother Nature’s Sons on Aug. 3, Son de Tres Latin Jazz Trio on Aug. 10, Dustin Drevich on Aug. 17, Cruise Control on Aug. 24, Stawberry Jam Duo on Aug. 31, Don Shappelle on Sept. 7 and Stanky and the Coalminers on Sept. 28.
