Spring Arrives Downtown with the Return of the Market Square Farmers Market

The Market Square Farmers Market, presented by Green Mountain Energy, returns on Thursday, May 16 for its 15^th season. Produced by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the Market features more than 30 vendors of locally grown produce, organic products, small-batch foods, spirits, and live entertainment under the PNC Bank Stage. The Market occurs rain or shine each Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. through October 31, 2019.

The Market Square Farmers Market, presented by Green Mountain Energy, returns on Thursday, May 16 for its 15^th season. Produced by the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the Market features more than 30 vendors of locally grown produce, organic products, small-batch foods, spirits, and live entertainment under the PNC Bank Stage. The Market occurs rain or shine each Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. through October 31, 2019.

With a new Farmers Market season comes many new part-time and full-time vendors increasing the Market’s already diverse product offerings. This year, 13 new participants will join the Market. To compliment the existing fresh produce and artisanal food items, new offerings include biscuits, cheese and yogurt, foraged mushrooms, roasted nuts, maple syrup and plant-based ice cream. Local distillers, vineyards and brewers will once again participate sample and sell their products. The complete list of full and part time vendors is available below.

“The Market Square Farmers Market is a tremendous amenity for Downtown residents, students and professionals as well as a great way to support the small business community throughout the region,” said Jeremy Waldrup President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership. “We always look forward to its return as it marks the arrival of spring and the start of a busy season of events that bring vibrancy to our Downtown neighborhood.”

New for 2019, Market sponsor Green Mountain Energy has teamed up with Pittsburgh’s Healthy Ride for a special offer. Switching to renewable energy and using your bike are the top two things to live greener and to help save the planet. Stop by Green Mountain Energy at the Farmers Market and do both. All visitors who sign up for renewable energy will receive a free $25 gift card to Healthy Ride, helping Pittsburgh to be even greener.

An annual favorite, The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will again give away 6,500 daffodil and tulip bulbs, and 250 redbud saplings during the season opener next Thursday starting at 10:00 a.m. The Conservancy is distributing bulbs removed earlier this spring from its planters around Downtown on a first-come, first-served basis as long as supplies last. The redbud saplings are being given away through the Conservancy’s Pittsburgh Redbud Project.

The PDP Small Business Spotlight program is also returning to the Market in a program is designed to support small retailers in Downtown Pittsburgh. The Market will showcase a Downtown retailer to the Market’s more than 5,000 weekly visitors. Among the Downtown businesses slated to participate include new Downtown high-performance gym, Altus HPO as well as a number of Downtown’s finest boutiques. More information on the program can be found at http://downtownpittsburgh.com/do-business/retail-small-business-resources/

As part of PDP’s Downtown Sound initiative, the Market spotlights free, weekly local music under the PNC Bank Stage, including performances from a variety of local festivals, groups and luminaries including the Pittsburgh Opera. The first of many local musical artists performing throughout the season will be Mark Ferrari, who will perform next Thursday from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The Market will also present special theme days such as Christmas in July, and a Halloween Bash.

Just Harvest will be back conducting their Fresh Access program every week of the 2019 Farmers Market season. This program enables shoppers to use their credit/debit cards and food stamps via electronic benefit transfer (EBT) to purchase a variety of fresh produce, baked goods, meat, and dairy products. SNAP users can swipe their cards and receive tokens that are accepted by many of the vendors. Users of the token service for credit and debit card purchases will be asked to contribute $1 per transaction to defray costs of the program.

2019 Farmers Market Vendors

The list of regular Market Square Farmers Market vendors features many familiar faces who, along with a mix of new participants, will bring diverse products to market.

* denotes new vendor

Alpha Farms – Organic family-run farm, specializing in a variety of fresh produce and microgreens

Always Summer Herbs – Herb and flower potted plants, herb Teas and classic blends. Honey, wax, and hive related products

Andrews Farm Market – Third generation fruit and vegetable grower with emphasis on top quality produce

Aunt Carol’s Gourmet Dips – Savory, sweet and oil dips – quick, easy and delicious

Batch – Unique homemade jams and jellies made from surprising ingredients

Billy’s Country Smoke House – made from scratch using the best hand trimmed ingredients, offerings include ham, kolbassi, turkey, bacon, jerky, salmon and more

Brenckle’s Organic Farm & Greenhouses – USDA certified organic produce farm, specializing in spring annual flowers and organic vegetable seedlings

*Cafe Agnes – Hand-made Salvadoran cuisine using vegetables, dairy, and meat produced in Western Pennsylvania

*Cherish Creamery – All natural artisanal cheeses, yogurts and numerous other products

*Chocolate Moonshine Co – Gourmet fudge and hand-crafted artisan chocolates

City Fresh Pasta – Made from scratch fresh gourmet pastas, ravioli, pierogis, gnocchi, artisanal sauces and butters 

Cinco De Mayo Salsas – Authentic Mexican fire roasted salsas and dips

Cobbler World – Cobblers, cheesecakes, pound cakes and more

*Conover Organic Farm – Organic farm and apiary located just outside of Burgettstown, PA, featuring fresh produce as well as small-batch, jarred products

Fabulous Homemade Cookies – A local favorite, always made from scratch and baked fresh.

Good L’Oven Bakery – Gourmet giant cookies

Gosia’s Pierogies – Fresh ready-to-eat pierogies from a Polish family recipe

Hello Hummus – Artisan hummus and healthy, fresh salads and snacks for the local market

Jose Quiroz Farm – Home grown produce out of Salem, OH

Little Athens Catering – Ready-to-eat Greek foods such as grape leaves, spanakopita, pastitsio and more

Mediterra Bakehouse – Bread and artisan pastries baked in custom stone-hearth, steam-injected ovens

My Sweet Lilly – Boutique bakery / pastries, lady locks, biscotti, scones, tarts

The Olive Tap – Unique, flavorful and fresh, award-winning olive oils and balsamic vinegars

Pisarcik Greenhouses & Flower Farm – Fresh flowers including Annuals, Perennials, herbs, succulents, locally produced, in-season flowers and plants

*Real Fungi LLC – A cooperative of local foragers and hobbyists and the first licensed vendor of wild mushrooms and foraged foods in the Pittsburgh area

Sand Hill Berries – Farm fresh berries, fruits, and seasonal produce – along with handmade pies, jams, jellies, cookies, and more

Simmons Farm – Fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, annuals, fall decor made of corn stalks, pumpkins, etc.

Sweet Patootie – Vegetarian Dog Treats; Pet products; Products for animals

Two Acre Farm & The Brinery  – Small batch products including marinara sauces and mustards, along with freshly packed hand-crafted artisan pickles

West Penn Farm Alliance – Certified organic vegetables, fruit, frozen meat (chicken, beef, pork), eggs, mushrooms

*Wise County Biscuits – Handmade Appalachia inspired biscuits and sandwiches

Woolf Farms – Family farm specializing in apples, strawberries, blueberries, cherries, sweet corn, and cider

Part Time Vendors

In addition to the vendors who will be at the Market each week, the PDP looks forward to welcoming rotating vendors, including several new vendors who will join the Market for limited engagements.

*CinnaRoast – Local roasters make their nuts fresh onsite using an Old World German recipe with three simple ingredients:  cinnamon, sugar and vanilla

Cutting Root Farm and Apothecary – Cutting Root Farm & Apothecary cultivates over 85 different kinds of medicinal herbs, all hand processed at the height of their season into tea blends, tinctures, salves, scrubs and syrups. 

Drew Mathieson Center for Horticulture & Agriculture Technology – A non-profit Horticultural and Agricultural Technology School selling orchids, annuals, perennials, assorted herbs, hanging baskets, tropicals, potted vegetable and succulents

Ekernally Yours Gourmet Popcorn & Sweet Treats – 55+ flavors of gourmet popcorn produced in small batches

*Lemmon Bros Maple Farms – Pure maple syrup from Somerset County

The Pickled Chef – Local canning, preserving and pickling company features a variety of all natural preservative free hand canned and hand packed products

Pittsburgh Sweet Treats – Scratch Baked Goods

*Rooted Ice Cream – serving up plant-based ice cream in a sustainable way

Sinful Sweets Chocolate Company – Traditional chocolates, cupcakes, and Dough-licious products

*Stickler’s Ice Pop Co. – All natural, small batch popsicles made in Pittsburgh

*The Cakery – Specializes in baked goods from scratch, including keto/diabetic friendly desserts

*The Smokey City’s 412 BBQ/Uncle Jammy’s Sauces – Small batch, all-natural BBQ Sauce and Dry Rubs

Underhill Farm – Artisan yarn and wool from Leicester Longwool sheep and Angora goats

Alcohol Vendors

Boyd & Blair       

Christian W. Klay Winery              

Country Hammer Moonshine    

Greendance Winery      

Hitchhiker Brewing Co. 

Laurel Highlands Meadery          

Lawrenceville Distilling Co.          

Liberty Pole Spirits          

Maggie’s Farm Rum       

McLaughlin Distillery

Quantum Spirits              

R Wine Cellar

Ridge Runner Distillery 

Sturges Orchards            

Threadbare Cider & Mead          

Wigle Whiskey 

Wines of America