New Vendor

Penn Farm will be joining us May 1st on openning day. 

Here's a little write up from one of the other markets they attended:

"Walking up to Penn Farm’s stand at East Columbia Library farmers’ market you will notice right away the smiling faces of Dora Beltran’s five helpful children. Penn Farm is a family-owned and run farm located in Colonial Beach, Virginia. Beltran, the manager of Penn Farm, and her children, ranging from 5- to 18-years-old, all work on the farm and attend multiple farmers’ markets to sell their produce. Traveling over two hours, the family sets up their stand at two Howard County farmers’ markets - East Columbia Library and Oakland Mills - and promotes their locally-grown, fresh fruit and produce at other markets in the Maryland/Virginia area.

After each farmers’ market Penn Farm donates its remaining crops to local charities. At Penn Farm, it is important to give back to the community. The farm donates to the following local organizations: Grassroots, Maryland Food Bank, and Elkridge Love Mission.

“We have received wonderful, abundant, and very fresh produce from Penn Farm,” said Doug Carl, Kitchen Manager at Grassroots Crisis Intervention. “We are most appreciative for its ongoing support.”

Many local aid organizations would not be able to get by without the support of local farms. These charities also appreciate donations from farms because their products are fresh and nutritious.

Beltran is very proud of the crops that Penn Farm offers. It bounties up a huge variety of vegetables including seven different kinds of squash, cucumbers, leeks, beans, onions, potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes, egg plant, and more. New to the farm’s variety of vegetables this year are garlic and sweet onion.

Right now, beans are Penn Farm’s number one seller and its customers are patiently awaiting the arrival of its delicious tomatoes and corn. Beltran assures anxious buyers these items will be available soon stating, “Our produce comes in two weeks earlier than other vendors because we are farther south.” This is what benefits and differentiates Penn Farm from other vendors in the area. She is thankful for all the opportunities that each market offers and how so many residents support buying local.

This year’s rainfall has taken a toll on crops everywhere. Beltran guarantees her consumers the quality that her farm produces. Beltran noted, “Most customers understand that not all produce is going to be perfect.” Customers know rain is a problem this season, but are confident that the produce sold at Penn Farm’s stand is always fresh and top of the line.