Farmer's Market Off to a Fresh Start

Depending on who you asked, the opening day at the Sewickley Farmers Market Saturday morning was either a success or a success waiting to happen.

Either way, Yvonne Kass said she felt excited about the new market season. Seeing the eclectic group of vendors once again felt quite like a family reunion, she said.

“It’s awesome,” said Kass, co-owner of . “It feels so great to be back together. It’s like a giant family down here.”

Kass was one of several vendors who braved the early-April cold Saturday morning to set up on the first day of the Farmers Market in the parking lot between Broad and Walnut streets.

Now in its seventh year, the St. James Church Farmers' Market hosts merchants selling meat, locally grown vegetables, honey, and more from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays from April through November. The market helps to support local farmers and merchants, according to the church website.

A popular tradition

Among the regulars who turned out for the popular tradition were Jenna Componovo and her 4-year-old daughter Angelina, who enjoyed a cookie from one of the stands.

Componovo, of Sewickley, said they attended the fish fry Friday night at St. James and saw a sign for the farmer’s market. She shops there every year, she said.

“I just like to support the community, which is what brought me out,” Componovo said.

Bundled up against the chill, Rich and Lois Kulbacki of said they had errands to run and figured they would stop by the market to see what was available.

“There’s slim pickings today, but we’ve been here when the parking lot’s full,” Rich Kulbacki said.

Slow first day

Both customers and sellers agreed that the first day of the market typically is slow.  But by the third week in, they said, the parking lot is filled with vendors and buyers and sales typically pick up.

Tony Callipare of Callifonte Foods in Vandergrift said this is his fifth year at the  Sewickley farm market and the first day's business is always slow.

“It’ll get busy and it’ll stay busy,” said Callipare, who sold homemade pasta, sauce and pizza shells. “The warmer it gets, the more people will come.”

Farm-fresh produce, fresh flowers and herbs, hot ethnic foods, homemade baked goods, soups, fresh breads –- you name it, Componovo said, and you’ll find at least one vendor at the farmer’s market has it.

“The fresh bread is awesome,” she added.

Fresh, organic, local

Pittsburgh-based Mediterra Bakehouse offered a selection of fresh, quality breads.

Kass also offered an assortment of Bread Works breads, in addition to a wide selection of organic foods -- rotisserie chicken, chicken fingers, spinach and mushroom breakfast wraps, and a variety of quiche.

Next door, farmer Dick McElhaney and his assistant Mary Brown offered premium aged beef. McElhaney said the ethically-treated cattle are raised on the family farm in Hookstown.

And at the far end, Betty and Bill Starn of Patterson Heights sold homemade apple strudel and pies, cherry and blackberry turnovers, and three kinds of doughnuts.

Betty Starn said they’ve been coming for five years. A line usually forms in front of her booth as customers wait for homemade doughnuts. On Saturday, she offered regular glazed, orange and cinnamon flavors.

Butch Morris browsed the vendors, but said his refrigerator was too full to take home any perishables.

“I always like coming in and seeing what they have new,” said Morris, of .

'One of the best'

Many of the merchants, including Starn and Kass, agreed that the Sewickley market is one of the best in the greater-Pittsburgh area and has a loyal following.

“I just can’t wait to come back,” Betty Starn said. “This is a true farmer’s market. People come rain, snow or shine. Other farmer’s markets, if it’s raining, people don’t go outdoors. The people here are outdoorsy.”

“There’s some diehard customers (who) come no matter what,” said vendor Jessie Bach of Expresso Specialty Foods in Pittsburgh, which sold baked goods.

Kass said the farmer’s market feels like a social event. Once the weather warms up and the place is back into the groove, she said, the crowds will be swarming the neighborhood.

“We’re getting back into the swing of the farmer’s market,” Kass said. “It’s a great feeling to be back.”