Erie County Farmers Market Week
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 8, 2023
MEDIA CONTACT:
Leann Sestak | Public Health Educator
lsestak@eriecountypa.gov | 814-451-6547
Erie County Farmers Market Week Erie
Erie, PA — August 6 to 12 has been declared Erie County Farmers Market Week to support and encourage farmers markets in conjunction with National Farmers Market Week. A proclamation signed by County Executive Brenton Davis was presented to Stephanie Ciner and Stephanie Thauer, farmers, food system advocates and cofounders of the Parade Street Fresh Food Farm Stand.
“Farmers markets celebrate seasonal, nourishing, locally grown food. I shop at our Erie farmers markets to support other farmers and small businesses, find great food, and spend time outside with friends and neighbors,” said Ciner.
A map of farmers markets in Erie County is at eriefarmersmarkets.org/find-farmers-markets.
The Parade Street Fresh Food Farm Stand is a successful pilot of the “pay-what-you-can” model. “We recently started another stand in Edinboro and other community organizations are establishing a pay-what-you-can stand for their neighbors. We feel it’s so important to get fresh produce into areas with limited access, but also make it affordable,” said Thauer.
In addition to running the farm stand, Ciner and Thauer are involved in improving our local food system as a member and co-chair, respectively, of the Erie Food Policy Advisory Council.
The Erie Food Policy Advisory Council aims to gather partners from across Erie County to streamline improvements to our food system. “The goals are to identify the biggest barriers facing our food system and to identify how we can work toward finding some solutions. Establishing more pay-what-you-can stands creates a bridge between farmers and community members and redirects unsold produce to different markets,” said Thauer.
The Erie Food Policy Advisory Council is a network of several organizations including government agencies, community-based organizations and non-profits, food retail outlets, farmers and food business owners, schools and universities, healthcare organizations, community leaders and advocates. “Anyone involved in the food system from farm to fork is welcome to join,” said Thauer.
Follow the Erie Food Policy Advisory Council at facebook.com/ErieFPAC or email eriefpac@gmail.com.