Farmers market at Keystone State Park sees resurgence under new management

The Keystone Farmers Market at Keystone State Park is regrouping this season under new management, following a year in hiatus during the covid-19 pandemic.

Samantha Matter, who manages the market for the Friends of Keystone State Park volunteer organization, said participation by vendors was spotty at the beginning of the summer but has grown to between 15 and 21 in recent weeks. The market is held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays in the beach parking lot of the park in Derry Township.

Park officials note the market couldn’t be held last summer because of restrictions on activities at state parks during the first wave of the pandemic.

The market is scheduled to run through at least Sept. 12 this year, Matter said, but additional weeks might be added.

The market is open to vendors who sell items they have made, baked or grown.

“We have produce, baked goods, including gluten-free, jewelry and other handcrafted items,” Matter said. “There’s a man who does woodworking and makes beautiful items. He makes chairs, cutting boards and birdhouses.”

The market also has attracted some local artists who sell original paintings and prints, she said.

Vendors need not make advanced reservations. They can arrive beginning at 8 a.m. to claim a spot on a first-come, first-served basis. The fee is $10 per spot.

To help build interest, the Friends group has introduced a weekly promotion through its Facebook page. Matter explained the group posts a photo representing one of the market vendors. Visitors to the site can submit their guess about the vendor’s identity to keystoneFM@protonmail.com.

“If they guess the right vendor, they get put in a drawing that we do at 10 o’clock on Sundays,” she said. “The winner gets $10 in ‘market bucks’ that can be spent with any vendor at the market,” within two weeks of issuance. An individual may win the drawing only once a year.

Patrons of the Keystone market, in addition to supporting the vendors, are helping the park. Net profits from the vendor fees are applied toward educational programming and maintenance at the park.

Keystone State Park-themed T-shirts and sweatshirts also may be purchased at the park beach house.

In addition to growing the market, the Friends of Keystone State Park group is looking to grow its own ranks from the current handful of active members.

The group had been affiliated with a state organization, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, but now is aligned with the local Derry Area Revitalization Corporation (DARCee). To get involved, email keystoneFM@protonmail.com or visit the Friends of Keystone Park Facebook page.