In a world where you can have anything delivered direct to your door, it’s easy to forget that local businesses depend on their local communities to stay afloat.

I honestly believe that supporting those in your community is more critical now than ever. And one of the easiest ways to do that is by visiting your local farmers market or farm.

We have a ton of great options throughout the area.

First up is the Williamsport Growers Market. Located along Little League Blvd., in downtown Williamsport, the Williamsport Growers Market has a ton to offer!

Not only are the stacked with great produce, but you can find fresh meat, fish, honey, canned goods, baked goods and more! They are even offering yoga classes now! According to the WGM, “The WGM mission is to provide consumers with high quality locally produced goods and encourage local agriculture and specialty products through a year-round ‘producers only’ marketplace.” They are certainly doing that!

Downtown Williamsport has been a host for growers markets since before the Great Depression. The agricultural system shifted from small family farms to commercial farming, so many families lost touch from where their food came from. The WGM says, “Since the 1970s the Williamsport Growers Market has strived to bring back the local and homegrown market.”

Due to proximity, I tend to hit the WGM more than any other place, and I can’t speak more highly of it. It always has a ton to offer with over 30 vendors.

The Williamsport Growers Market is open every Saturday. During the summer months, they are open from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Another local growers market is the Montoursville Growers Market. The Montoursville Growers Market also offers a ton fresh local option for veggies, fruit, meat, pizza, syrup, oils and more. I hear they also offer a fantastic chicken BBQ! They even have entertainment for the kiddos thanks to the W.B Konkle Memorial Library.

The Montoursville Growers Market is located at Community Baptist Church out Rt. 87. They are open every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

I haven’t ever been, and it’s a little outside of the Webb Weekly area, but there is also the Lewisburg Farmers Market every Wednesday!

In addition to the markets, there are also a lot of other options for supporting local farms and enjoy fresh fruits and veggies!

You can do this by going directly to the farms!

You can head to Linden to Berried Treasures and not only get fresh, locally grown fruit, but you can have some fun and get some exercise by picking it yourself! Berried Treasure Farm Market is open Monday-Saturday 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., but remember to bring cash!

If you are on the other end of the county, but still want to pick your own fruit, check out Tom Styer Farm Market! They are located behind Muncy Hospital and are open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Saturdays 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Also located in Muncy is the Green Barn Berry Farm. Situated on Armstrong Rd., Green Barn offers strawberries, red raspberries, and early blueberries. Black raspberries should be available soon too! And if you don’t have anything to collect all that fruit in, don’t worry! They have collectible buckets!

Green barn Berry Farm is open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

For those of us in between be sure to check out Tebbs Farms and Greenhouse. Tebbs Farms is in full bloom with the beginning of fresh fruit season, bringing strawberries, blueberries, and cherries. It isn’t long until Tebbs Farms famous sweet corn is ready, usually around the 4th of July. Along with sweet corn, many other fresh vegetables become available including zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, etc.

Tebbs Farm is open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and they are located along Four Mile Dr., in Williamsport.

A bit further down the road Montour Farm Market. They are located between Turbotville & McEwensville on Rt. 44, 10380 State Route 44, Watsontown. There you can find everything from produce to pickles, and cheese to hanging baskets. They are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:00 a.m-8:00 p.m., and Wednesday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Opening in July is Shirey’s Blueberry Hill. Located on Northway Rd. in Linden, they offer picked blueberries, or you can take an adventure and pick them yourself. They are open Tuesday-Saturday 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Are you tired of me yet? I know, I have listed a ton of places already, but here are just a couple more to round out the list. Wengerds Farm Market in Pennsdale, Kuhns Farm in Montoursville, Lapps Produce in Elimsport, Mackeyville Greenhouse in Mackeyville and 654 Farm Market in Jersey Shore.

Trust me when I tell you that this list is far from complete and I am sorry to anyone I may have missed.

The point of this whole thing is this. Shop local. Not only is it good for your own wallet, but it’s money that stays in your own community. It’s not paying the overblown paycheck of some CEO.
Plus there are other advantages to buying local produce.

It tastes better. Preparing fresh local food is better than anything!

Plus a shorter path from harvest to plate preserves more nutrients, so it’s healthier!

It’s also better for the environment. Shipping and cooling for thousands of miles wastes fuel and energy.

And best of all, you know exactly where your food came from, who grew it, and in a lot of cases pick it yourself so you know that it is as fresh as it can be!