AVOCA — When Ed Kowalczyk stopped to purchase strawberries at the borough’s farmers market, his two sons, Reyes, 14 months, and Alex, 3, wasted little time in enjoying the delicious fruit.
As quickly as they began eating the strawberries, their faces and shirts quickly turned red from the fruit juices.
“It’s one of their favorite fruits and, apparently, they’re pretty sweet and juicy,” Kowalczyk said. “(Reyes) has been clean for 20 minutes, so it’s time to get him dirty.”
The Suscon resident, his two sons, and his wife, Susan, were among the hundreds of people who attended the borough’s very first farmers market on June 21.
“We heard it was starting and we wanted to check it out,” Kowalczyk said. “We’re always fans of farmers markets and we’re hoping this continues to grow and get better.”
The event was held from noon to 6 p.m. at the property of 822 McAlpine St., and will be held every Wednesday through November.
It was organized by Borough Councilman Mike Fuller, Council Vice President Frank Marriggi and Borough Secretary Kelly O’Brien.
“It’s to enhance the quality of life for the people of Avoca,” said Fuller. “It’s a community aspect thing.”
With over 20 vendors on hand, including two food trucks, the inaugural event had a turnout that exceeded the expectations of its organizers.
“We had a great turnout,” said Fuller. “We had hundreds of people coming in within the first hour hitting all of the stands.”
OHF Orchards, out of Bloomsburg, which sells peaches and apples, sold out their product within the first hour.
“It was unexpected,” said co-owner Pat O’Hara. “I should have brought more products. I wasn’t anticipating that kind of a turnout. There was a ton of traffic and, based off what we sold, it compares to some of the better markets in the area. It was a really good market for us. We should have brought more.”
Other vendors came from far and near to be part of the inaugural event, including The Renegade Winery from Stroudsburg.
Monica Stofko, an employee at the winery, said the business also saw a successful day.
“Our sweet wines are going like crazy,” she said. “I sold a lot of strawberry fruit wine and a lot of our sweet red.”
Stofko travels to various farmers markets in Pennsylvania for The Renegade Winery and was impressed with Avoca’s.
“I think it’s great,” she said. “It’s a nice, diverse market and everyone just compliments one another.”
Other vendors included Maaa’s Goat Milk Soaps, Wild PA Beef Jerky, Purple Pepper Farms, Beta Bread and many more.
Fuller said various vendors will be around for the duration of the farmers market season, but there will be new ones each week, as well.
“Some will be with us on a regular basis, but we’re going to have a variety of vendors,” he said. “There’s going to be a new lineup just about every week, depending on the harvest time and whatever is in season.”
