The weekly Farmers on the Square market is a fresh break from the Caf, the Quarry, the Snar or pretty much anything else on campus. Offering a large variety of local produce and products, such as apples, honey, cheese, bagels, breads, greens, meats, eggs and other dairy products, Farmers on the Square is Carlisle’s local, producer-only farmers market that operates year-round. Food comes from nearby farms, dairies and our very own Dickinson Farm.

Kaitlin Soriano ‘15 works for the farm and runs the Dickinson College Organic Farm stand at Farmers on the Square, selling Dickinson Farm produce and products such as farm spinach, salad mix, garlic and celery root, canned goods and the Farm’s “world-famous” salad dressing. She says that selling with Farmers on the Square is a good source of income for the farm, second only to the CSA program (Community Supported Agriculture). When asked why she enjoys the farmers market, she said, “It’s a great way to engage with local community and promote healthy food habits,” two things she feels passionate about.

Also at Farmers on the Square is Lark Rise Farm, a bakery and farm stand that sells fresh eggs and baked goods. The farm comes from Loysville, Pa., which is about thirty minutes from Carlisle. Lark Rise Farm is known for their fresh breads, especially bagels, and also sells a variety of cheeses, sun dried tomatoes and dried fruits. In addition to the CSA program, they also sell in Mechanicsburg and at Adams Ricci Park, or “Farmers on Walnut,” in Camp Hill and Enola, Pa.

Keswick Creamery at Carrock Farm, from nearby Newburg, Pa. is a husband-and-wife-owned farm since 1978. Its creamery, established in 2001, produces a large variety of cheeses and dairy products, such as ricotta, cheddar, brie, quark and feta. They sell at farmers’ markets throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, including Takoma Park Farmer’s Market and Freshfarm Dupont Circle Farmers Market in Washington, D.C. Additionally, they also supply local shops and restaurants. Their products were used at Gaia Cafe before its closing, and are used at Carlisle’s own Alibi’s Eatery and Spirits. One of the owners, Melanie Dietrich Cochran, could not pick out her favorite cheese, and said, “It’s like having to pick your favorite child.”

Setting a fun and eclectic tone for Farmers on the Square was Rivers, a full time band from the Harrisburg area composed of three members: lead guitarist/banjoist/vocalist Vincent Yarnell, percussionist/vocalist Matt Sinkovitz and upright bassist/vocalist Joe Schaefer. A self-described folk-pop band, they will give over 200 local performances all throughout the Mid Atlantic over the next year. Catch them this weekend near Waggoner’s Gap.

May 6th, 2015, is “The Move,” or when Farmers on the Square actually will be on The Square, at 2 N. Hanover Street. They are currently at their winter location at Project Share, 5 N. Orange St. Farmers on the Square is a Certified Farmer’s Market, meaning that all the vendors are producing the products themselves, and that they come from within a 50 mile limit outside of Carlisle, generally from Newville, Newburg or Harrisburg. If you do not have cash, you can purchase wooden tokens with debit or credit, which are accepted by all vendors as a substitute. They also have EBT tokens for those on food stamps or for seniors, ensuring access to healthy food for all.