As a Penn State student, you’ve probably passed the farmer’s market, either on your way to class or while shopping downtown. You probably didn’t think twice about it, shrugging it off as just a place to buy fresh fruit and veggies. While this may be true, it’s not your traditional farmer’s market. Apples, peaches, berries, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, celery, squash, corn—you name it, we have seen it. But as the saying goes, there is more than meets the eye and there’s some rather unconventional items waiting to be found.
Plants
Herbs, sunflowers, gladiolus, bonsai, lucky bamboo, cacti, succulent and faerie gardens
Ok, so some of these may not be completely out of the ordinary, but there’s a few that deserve some recognition. Where else in State College can you buy a lucky bamboo plant or an exotic cactus?
Homemade sauces
Hot sauce, BBQ, horseradish, honey mustard, ketchup
If you like your food dripping in flavor, then this selection of sauces is a dream come true. They are guaranteed to be more potent than what you buy at the grocery store.
Organic body products
Facial cleanser, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, lip balm, salts
If you’re in need of gentle, chemical-free products to use on a daily basis, search no longer.
Homemade potato chips
Sour cream, BBQ, salt and vinegar, honey mustard and onion
Not only do these chips sound delicious, but they’re also made in peanut oil, which is naturally trans fat-free, cholesterol-free and low in saturated fats. Delicious and healthy.
Dairy products
Milk, yogurt, homemade ice cream
These products are made from pastured, grass-fed cows, which ensure safe consumption, free of antibiotics, growth hormones and other unnatural additives.
Some other things we found concealed among the vast array of products were candles, tie-dye clothing, Penn State football hair clips, Kombucha tea and avocado milkshakes.
Curious about other hidden treasures, we decided to talk to Deb Fisher, a local florist.
“The strangest thing I’ve ever seen here is hula-hoops,” says Fisher. “My daughter actually makes them. I sometimes like to use her hoops as signs for my stand. It catches people’s attention with the circular shape.”
Whether you’re looking to Feng Shui your space with living plants, try your first avocado milkshake, or impress your friends with your hula-hooping talent, you can surely find everything you need at the farmer’s market.
Photos by Danielle D’Angelo
