Pittston Farmers’ Market opens
Nicole Dale of Pittston, left, purchases flowers from Laura Golomb Kosco, of Golomb’s Farm, Plains Township, during the opening day of the Pittston Farmer’s Market on Tuesday.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Pittston Memorial Library’s Nancy Dougherty, left, reads to the children at the Pittston Farmer’s Market opening day on Tuesday.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
A look behind the scenes at the JFL What’s the Scoop new ice cream mobile with employee Victoria Ferentino dishing out the frozen treats at the Pittston Farmer’s Market.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Brace’s Orchard employees, from left to right: Jerry Mancinelli, Joe Erzar, and Ashlie Alves, take care of customers during the five hours of opening day at the Pittston Farmer’s Market on Tuesday.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
Carl Farley of Farley’s Farms displays one of his freshly frozen chickens. This is Farley Farm’s third year at Pittston Farmer’s Market.
Tony Callaio | For Times Leader
PITTSTON — Harold Golomb of Golomb’s Farm, Plains Township, has been pitching the family farm’s tent at Pittston going back as far as the mid-1970s to his recollection. The Golombs are one of the main staples of the city’s farmers’ market each year.
On Tuesday, the Golombs, as well as another perennial at the Downtown Pittston event, Brace’s Orchard, were back again for another opening day of the City of Pittston Farmer’s Market presented by Community Bank.
Documentation on the beginnings of the farmer stands was difficult to find, but Golomb recalls that Downtown Wilkes-Barre was created right after the Agnes Flood in 1972.
“Wilkes-Barre started their market in ’73 or ’74,” Golomb recalled. “I know Pittston started after that, let’s say ’75, ’76, or ’77, it’s hard to recall exactly, but I’m sure that’s about the time it started in Pittston.
Golomb said the early days of Pittston farmer’s market started at the site of the present-day Burger King/CVS Pharmacy lot along Kennedy Boulevard. Eventually, the market faded until it was brought back in 2011 under the administration of then-mayor Jason Klush.
“We look for another good season at Pittston,” Golomb added. “We always have a good turnout of customers here. Val D’Elia started the farmer’s market all those years ago because he wanted to push local tomatoes.”
Golomb’s Farm grows flowers in addition to vegetables, and Golomb said his family farm is currently pushing flowers and is a little behind on the vegetables. He said all spring vegetables have been planted, and he is optimistic they will have a great growing season.
Mary Kroptavich, City of Pittston’s Main Street manager, said she’s inclined to agree with Golomb saying longtime Pittston civic leader, Maria Capolarella-Montante played a role in creating a farmer’s market along with strong evidence Wil Toole served as the original chairman of the farmer’s market.
“It’s been interesting to see the market grow, especially over the last eight years that I’ve been involved,” Kroptavich said. “When I first started, there was Golombs, Braces, the popcorn and the bread people, and now I have to turn vendors away.”
The City of Pittston Farmer’s Market is held each week on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through November.
“I’d love to see the market get bigger, but we have space issues,” Kroptavich added. “Maybe if we put some of the vendors on the sidewalks like we do for the 2nd Friday Art Walk each month. It’s an idea, but it may be hard to implement.”
Kroptavich said she enjoys the Farmer’s Market because it’s for everyone, making it a great summer event.
“I like that the farmers want to stay right before Thanksgiving,” Kroptavich said. “The hardcore people like Braces, Golombs, Dymonds, Beta Bread, they are here, year after year, rain or shine, it doesn’t matter, they show up.”
One new vendor in its second year at the City of Pittston Farmers Market is Farley Farms of Lycoming Co., PA, which sells farm-raised beef, chickens, and pigs and delivers freshly frozen meats.
“Farley Farms drives 90 minutes to get here, and that’s the type of vendors we have at our farmer’s market,” Kroptavich said. “This is their third year back.”
Carl Farley of Farley’s Farms said the first year was not the best initially at the Pittston Farmer’s Market, but decided stay with it.
“It’s very, very difficult to sell meat on a very hot sidewalk or paved parking lot in July when it’s 90 degrees,” Farley said. “You have to build a customer base, they have to know you, they have to know how you take care of stuff, and in the second year, it took off here in Pittston. We have a real great following here.”
Kroptavich said there will be special events held during the Farmer’s Market during the course of the summer, including weekly live music and Kids’ Day.
“One thing I’d like to mention, we welcome SNAP/EBT recipients here at the Farmer’s Market,” Kroptavich said. “We have a representative on site where you can purchase tokens for all the fresh produce here.”
Kroptavich said the city is working with the CEO to help people sign up for SNAP, and that may happen in the next few weeks.
For information on Pittston Farmer’s Market, visit its Facebook page or downtownpittston.com.