We started out at the Piney Mountain Orchard stand, where we bought some fresh cherry tomatoes. The people there told us that the farm where they grow the produce is located in Adams City, about twelve miles south of Carlisle. They arrived at the farmer’s market around one to two o’clock p.m. with the produce that they picked the day before and the morning of the market. The orchard uses compost and organic fertilizer and is certified naturally grown. When asked about the family’s history with farming, the woman at the stand said her parents were not farmers. At Piney Mountain, the farmers experiment with different produce and grow what they enjoy growing. There are varied difficulties when it comes to the crops, with garlic being the easiest to grow. Some freshmen from Dickinson even helped plant produce at the orchard.

Jess works at Three Springs Fruit Farm as a secretary in the office, but she goes to two markets every two weeks. This week’s, in Carlisle is the closest to the farm. Though they sell a variety of vegetables, fruit and juices they have a beautiful display of apples. From the well known honey-crisp to gala apples, she says their fruit sells best. The farm itself is a Pennsylvania farm of gardens and is owned by her boyfriends family. She says she’s happy to be involved with it. She enjoys working the stands, and describes diverse marketers: college students, families and retirees. This was exemplified in a couple we met at the next stand over as we waited in line. After overhearing that we needed beef, they (only half-kidding) suggest we purchase rabbit instead. They come to the market every week, as they live within walking distance. Retired now, they feed themselves for the week off of what they purchase at the farmers market.

We ended our journey to the farmers market with Addiction Salsa. The women working the stand told us that she has been making salsa for her family for over twenty-five years. However she has only started selling her salsa at the market for the past four years. The women who started Addiction Salsa explained how she goes to another farmer in order to get her tomatoes. Unlike the other farmers we talked to the women and she could not guarantee that her salsa would be organic. She told us that she perfected her method of making salsa (after twenty-five years) and only uses a specific kind of tomato. There were free samples of salsa being passed and after tasting them we are sure that Addiction Salsa makes some of the best salsa in all of Carlisle.