What’s growing at Sayre Farmers Market

SAYRE, Pa ( WETM ) — The prevailing feeling among farmers at the Sayre Farmers Market is that the fruits and vegetables on sale have not been impacted by the rain and heat weather lately. Some of the local produce offered at the market are in their growing season and more produce will be available in the coming weeks.

Despite the rain people came to support local growers and businesses who set up produce stands at Howard Elmer Park. People appreciate the convenience of having locally grown produce in one place.

“A lot of your greens are in season right now, your lettuce, cucumbers are starting to come in and tomatoes are just starting to come in too,” said Ray Macwhinnie, co-owner of Udder Merry Mac Farm.

Lura Whipple, owner of Whipple’s Family Shoppe added, “Soon within a week or so corn will be local and that will be in season and then watermelons and cantaloupe and all that is going to be coming in real fast by the end of July. All that stuff should be all in season and easily accessible in this area.”

One of the farmers at the market, John Byler of Locust Lane Farm said how the heat wave made his crops grow quicker. He mentioned adding plastic mulch to the garden to create holes, allowing for planting seeds to keep the soil moist and help the crops grow.

Another farmer John Mann of Mann’s Country Gardens shared his thoughts on how the rain and heatwave wasn’t impactful to the crops: “I don’t think they’ve been adversely affected at all. The rain was needed when we got it, and the heatwave didn’t last so long that it damaged anything I think the crops are in pretty good shape.”

A couple of tips shared among Mann and Macwhinnie to help raise a garden was installing a deer fence to help deter woodchucks, rabbits or other animals from damaging the garden. Covering the garden with netting is another option to apply.

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