Deb's Flower Farm, pictured in 2023, is one of the vendors at the Downtown State University Farmers Market, which returned for the 2024 season on April 12.Photo by Shannon Smith | Forward State
Rainy weather did not prevent the Downtown State University Farmers Market from launching its first market of 2024 on Friday, April 12th.
The popular farmers market will be held on Locust Lane every Friday through November from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Website“to create an environment in which Center County farmers and residents mutually benefit from a market for locally produced products.”
Farmers markets attract a wide range of vendors, including flower farmers, fruit and vegetable stands, bakeries, aromatherapy vendors, coffee stands, and more.
For Inside Out Cookies business owner Nick Freed, the Downtown State University Farmers Market has been an integral part of his business for the past three years.
“This was the first event I did when I started my business,” Freed said. “So this is kind of my home spot.”
Freed sells a wide range of cookies with a variety of fillings. For example, the crowd-favorite Brookie Monster combines Reese's Peanut Butter His Cup with Chocolate His Chip His Cookie and Brownie, topped with M&Ms and Oreo Crumble.
“This is usually a very high energy market, especially when students are here. We have a lot of regulars that you only see in this market. So those guys come out and… We get to see each other again enjoying the warm weather and state universities,” he said. “I like it when there are a lot of people downtown and a lot of things going on. This is a great place to be in the middle of it.”
Deb's Flower Farm has become another staple of the Downtown State University Farmers Market in recent years, and Kat Fischer, whose mother Deb owns the flower farm, said the farmers market has become a staple for her family. He spoke at length about what it meant to be back.
“It's really great to interact with people all day long, because a lot of our work, whether it's making products or growing flowers, is kind of solo work or small groups,” Fisher said. “So it’s really nice to just interact and get back into the swing of things.”
The Downtown State University Farmers Market will reopen on Friday, April 19th.
