Clark Park Farmer's Market
The Food Trust
43rd St. and Baltimore Ave.
Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursdays 3 p.m.-7 p.m.
(215) 568-0830
www.thefoodtrust.org
Take a leisurely stroll down to 43rd and Baltimore on a drizzly Saturday morning, and you will stumble upon a neat row of fruit and vegetable stands, patiently awaiting your perusal. The Clark Park Farmer's Market may seem, at first glance, nothing more than a collection of craft tables loaded up with produce you could have bought at Fresh Grocer. But if you strike up a conversation with one of the farmers, you will find this unique place has all the charm and pleasant character of a small town. "This morning was very busy, even with the rain," says Brian Hernon, a baker from Lancaster, as he hands me a loaf of his Organic Maple Oat bread. His companion adds, "The farmers show up in all kinds of weather, because they have loyal customers who look forward to fresh fruits and vegetables. And people in the community shop here regularly because they appreciate the farmers and their harvests." This is truly the definition of cooperative farming, a mutual agreement that fresh, organic produce should be supported and promoted at every opportunity. The Clark Park Farmer's Market is a chance to be part of the organic movement, and everyone can benefit from the incredibly fresh foods, as well as the sincerity of purpose that imbues the atmosphere -- even in the rain.
