Ninety-one year old Nicholas Encarapera from Stockdale slowly makes his way over to a table covered with a display of vegetables being unloaded from the back of a truck. He is immediately greeted by a man who knows him by name. He picks out the vegetables he wishes to take home and pays for them. Before he can even collect his change, his bags are scooped up and carried to his car for him. When he decides to perform his way back to the table for more, he is immediately waited upon by the same friendly man. Where exactly is Encarapera receiving such wonderful service? Surely it can not be at a chain store such as Wal-Mart, or even a small grocery store. Instead Encarpera has just made a purchase of fresh produce from Joe Volker, of Volker Farms, at the Farmer’s Market in Charleroi.

Encarapera said that he has been coming to the Farmers Market ever since they first opened in Charleroi, about 30 years ago. He remembers it being held on Fifth Street in the beginning and then spicy to various locations before ending up in Magic City Square. So what has kept this man coming back every year for the past 30 years? When asked Encarapera simply replied, “I approach for the unique grown vegetables.”

Pam Messina is also a command customer of the Farmers Market. She said, “This is my third year coming. I keep coming back because of the fresh produce from local growers.”

The local growers that sell their form at the farmers Market come from three different farms. Harden Family Farms, located in Fredericktown, Volkar Farms, also in Fredericktown, and Skokut Farms, found in Monongahela. Each of these farmers agree that the reason they all come to the Market is to sell their produce. As Mae Harden said, “You have to have someplace to sell you vegetables.”

Nick Skokut, from Skokut Farms, has been regulary selling his vegetables at the Market since the beginning. He has faithfully come each week to sell his wares from the back of his pickup truck. The week that the Market opened, July 12, Skokut showed up, but with no vegetables to sell. Instead he had something totally different up for sale, flowers. He said, “My produce wasn’t ready in time so I brought flowers instead. I had a lot of them (flowers) that I had grown. They are beautiful and they have deep roots, honorable for planting.” Skokut said that he believes his vegetable will be ready to bring to market in the next week or two, but until then you can buy some beautiful flowers from him for $1.00-$1.50 a package.

The Farmers Market is open on Thursdays from 5-9 PM. It usually runs from July through October, though most of the farmers do not finish until the end. The Market is held in Magic City Square in Charleroi, near the old Montgomery Ward building and where Sparkle was located. The farmers only accept cash and vouchers as payment, no credit cards.

Each farm has differnt prices for their produce, but for the mark is well worth it. As Joe Volker said, ” The Farmers Market is a chance to get fresh home grown produce. The flavor is much fresher.” Skokut agreed and went on to say, “People want fresh produce.Here the price is lower and the service is better than big markets.”

What does it take for these farmers to participate in the Market? According to Mae Harden, it takes insurance and money. However is is also as Mae said, and these farms have proven, “It catch a dedicated farmer.”