June 4, 2007
Amish Market Pushed Out to Build Twinkie Aisle
First Eastern Market, and now another favorite alternative grocery market is closing down at least temporarily, if not for good. Not too far north in Burtonsville, Md., the Dutch Country Farmers Market has been bringing Amish-grown goods down from Pennsylvania every weekend for the last 20 years. Visitors come from all over the region for fresh pies, produce, and maybe even a dinner of ribs and chicken.
But get 'em while you can, because the Amish only have until next summer, when their market will have to leave its current home at the Burtonsville Shopping Center. The Washington Post reports that the center is being demolished next year, when the 50-year old building will be replaced with a behemoth three times the size and anchored with a new supermarket. The Amish will have to leave the shopping center permanently, since no grocery store would operate with this weekend competition.
Burtonsville residents are doing their best to find a new venue for the farmers market, afraid that if they temporarily relocate to a new city, they won't ever be back -- and we can sympathize with losing a local market that provides freshly made goods and produce straight from the farmer's hands. But, as the Post notes, trying to find another low-rent option is proving difficult. There are currently two other Amish markets in the region, in Germantown and Annapolis.
Photo by easement.
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How many square feet do they have and/or need? Would they be willing to tent-it?
Not to be a contrarian, but isn't the righteous nature of buying Amish somewhat cancelled out by the fact that the product has to be trucked in from out-of-state? What happened to buying locally?
OK. I guess MoCo residents will now be forced to righteously buy ``local'' from whatever safeway/giant/wholefoods/wegman's international conglomerate sets up shop there next year.
Yes, that is exactly what I was saying... what?
@Ex-Hy Hy: Even when you're buying produce and meat "locally" you're likely buying from areas in PA, VA, WV. For example, the area's producer-only farmers markets usually have vendors that come from within a 150-200 mile radius.
"Trucked in from out of state" implies that it's coming a really long way, but the food is only travelling around 100 miles, which, by some measures, still fits the rather loose definition of "local".
As manager of The Flea Market at Eastern Market and owner of easternmarket.net I suggest you go to our web site, where you will find that Eastern Market is open.
Umm...last time I checked, there weren't any farms in Georgetown growing "local" food to be sold at my farmers market. Really folks, I think we can consider PA, VA and WV produce as local.
I'm really sad about the closing of the Amish market. I was a frequent shopper over there. They had the best sauerkraut, and wonderful breads and cakes. Their fried chicken is legendary! I really hope the community can find some way to keep these folks in the area.
Bad news, they have some great ribs and cakes (especially the carrot cake).
I don't think tenting is an option because there are a lot of refrigerator cases, fryers and ovens for the meats/cheeses/prepared food.
I've lived in Burtonsville (Bville as the kids call it) my whole life and let me tell you that we are all really sad that the Amish Market may be going. It is Burtonsville. It and the Bedding Barn where we're not totally convinced that they're not selling something other than mattresses, but that's another story. I'm not sure why there needs to be ANOTHER grocery store since literally right across the street is a Giant albeit an expensive one. The strip mall is really crappy but that just gives the place character. The only upside is that they've apparently scrapped the idea to build a Walmart in favor of the grocery store. If you haven't been out there you should make the trip and when you do you definitely need to buy the ice cream pudding. There has never been a greater dessert created in the history of man. In my opinion anyway. Also check out the fried chicken, canned goods, cheeses, meats, candies, pies, and produce. Be sure to buy a wooden swingset, pirate ship or barn while you're at it.
This sucks - I love that place and much prefer it over the Germantown one! Also the B-ville market is a little closer to my home. Not only great bakery, but home-made ice cream from PA, wonderful butcher, fresh juices & dairy, & my fave, their little restaurant. Sure it's not bright & spotless, but this place is a GEM. GO VISIT if you've never been - only open Thurs--Sat.
I second that the fried chicken was legendary!
The Amish Market will stay in Burtonsville, and Just Up The Pike will have the scoop very soon . . .