Patrick Riley, Emily Armando, Xiufan Wu, Alvin Lecomte, Max Burrows
First Year Seminar: Modernity and Its Critics
9/21/2015

Farmers Market Assignment

Through going to Farmers on the Square Market, our group was able to engage with the vendors to gain insight about how farmers impact the Carlisle community. Our group purchased lettuce mix bags from the Conklin Farms vendor, Joe Conklin, who owns and operates his farm. Conklin Farms is located in Newville, Pennsylvania and is about ten miles away from Carlisle. Conklin Farms is a certified organic farm. Conklin explained that he is able to use pesticides, but makes the choice not to spray his produce with anything. Conklin Farms uses the manure from his animals on the farm as fertilization, while he rotates his crops and land to protect his farm. Conklin Farms continues to grow during the winter to maximize production. Farmers on the Square Market and other farmers markets provide Conklin Farms with a majority of its sales, but Conklin Farms also has deals with local restaurants and businesses. Through selling at farmers markets Conklin Farms has the goal of promoting sustainable farming. Joe Conklin reiterated that he has a passion to farm because he enjoys working outside and having the ability to grow his own food. He prefers the opportunities of farming outdoors, as opposed to a corporate job. One of the best advantages Conklin finds in owning his own farm is that he is the one in charge and there is no middle man, allowing him to sell directly to the consumer. Through learning about Conklin Farms it highlights the importance of supporting local produce, as opposed to big industry marketing.
Another farm we encountered at the farmer’s market was Three Springs Fruit Farm where we bought jalapeño peppers for our dinner. We discovered that this farm is located in Wenksville, Pennsylvania which is about twenty to twenty-five miles from Carlisle. The vendors informed us that they utilize an Integrated Pest Management System. Essentially, it is a less intensive and more affordable and sustainable system for farming. The spray they use protects roots from fungal diseases that spread after it rains. These practices are very similar to those used in organic productions. At the end of our visit, the vendor from Three Springs Fruit Farm told us that he enjoys farming because he likes the idea of continuing to grow U.S. products and wants to maintain family farming.
The last vendor we interviewed and purchased tomatoes from was Esh’s Homegrown Produce. Esh’s Homegrown produce is located in Newburg, Pennsylvania and is twenty miles away from Carlisle. This vendor informed us that all the vendors that sell at Farmers on the Square Market are all located within fifty miles of Carlisle. This vendor related to us that he continues to sell at this farmers market because it remains a good place to do his job and sell his produce and it gives the back to community by selling fresh produce. Lastly, Esh’s Homegrown Produces’ vendor informed us their typical buyers are local customers who want to buy produce directly from the farm. By talking with multiple vendors and seeing people from town supporting local farms, it illustrated how significant this opportunity was to gain a real world experience and learn through the perspectives of the farmers.