Pittsburgh releases annual farmers market schedule

Pittsburgh this week announced the city’s 2023 farmers market schedule, with sites this year in Squirrel Hill, East End, Carrick and North Side.

All markets sell farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, cheese and baked goods, city officials said, and several sites also sell flowers, small gifts and hot prepared foods.

“CitiParks is excited to make a greater investment in the city’s farmers markets to influence the growth of small, local and sustainably focused businesses,” CitiParks Director Kathryn Vargas said.

This year’s farmers market locations include:

• Squirrel Hill: Sundays 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. at the Beacon/Bartlett parking lot from May 14 through Nov. 19
• East End: Mondays 3 p.m. till 7 p.m. at Liberty Green Park on Larimer Avenue from May 22 through Nov. 20
• Carrick: Wednesdays 3 p.m. till 7 p.m. at Carrick Dairy District at 1529 Brownsville Rd. from May 24 through Nov. 15
• North Side: Fridays 3 p.m. till 7 p.m. at Allegheny Commons Park at East Ohio St. and Cedar Ave. from May 26 through Nov. 17

The Squirrel Hill Market is opening a week early with a special market on Sunday to celebrate Mother’s Day. The farmers market will include a photo booth and a Mother’s Day card crafting table for kids to mark the occasion.

All four CitiParks farmers markets accept food stamps, as well as credit and debit cards, city officials said. SNAP shoppers can get produce, meat, dairy, bread, baked goods, produce plants, seed and honey, but hot prepared food items, alcohol and non-food items aren’t eligible through SNAP.

The Food Bucks initiative through Just Harvest’s Fresh Access program also provides extra perks for SNAP shoppers at the markets. For every $5 dollars spent on food stamps, people can receive an extra $2 to spend on produce.

This year, the East End market will feature a booth operated by Catapult, which will rotate through new food entrepreneurs as part of their food business incubator program.

The Carrick market will feature entertainment from 25 Carrick with DJs from their youth apprenticeship program.