A Few Days Late For SBS!

Graff Gourmet & Specialty Foods - Leechburg, PA

LFLF was out and about on the other side of Pittsburgh yesterday.  This was our my version of supporting Small Business Saturday!  While skipping along to several antique shops with a friend, we dropped in on Graff Gourmet & Specialty Foods.  The proprietor said they'd been in business for about 9 years. 

Graff Gourmet & Specialty Foods - Specialty Spreads

They carry a nice full line of Amish style specialty spreads, pickled items, and granolas.  There were also snack assortments, gravy mixes, baking mixes, teas, & refrigerated cases. 

Local Hillcrest Organic Honey

We'd have to say that the organic honey was popular ... just one jar left on the shelf!  

Pounds Turkey Farm & Thoma Meat Market Info

LFLF & friend each managed to leave with a bag ... in fact, we went back & dropped them off in the car and resumed antique shop browsing ...  :~0
LFLF will be trying the Apple Butter BBQ Sauce & Zesty Peach BBQ Sauce soon!  

Sweet Corn At Schiefelbeins's Farm Market

Schiefelbein's Farm Market

LFLF made it a point to stop in at Schiefelbein's Farm Market yesterday to get some pictures.  You can see a lot of the produce growing in the fields right along Route 151.  We pass by and stop a couple of times a month, but never seem to have the camera in hand!  I didn't get any pictures of the sweet corn, but it was one of the best batches I've had all summer.

Schiefelbein's Farm Market Tables & Cooler

The tables were loaded with tomatoes front & center and surrounded by a colorful display of ornamental gourds, mini-pumpkins, & decorative corn.  Peppers filled the back side.  Click on the pictures to see what's in the cooler case - local milk from Brunton Dairy and fresh eggs from Seibel's Farm.


Decorative Corn & Mini-Pumpkins

In the background the tables are full of butternut & acorn squash, zucchini, cabbage, potatoes, beets, large pumpkins, and a good selection of local apples.  Along with the sweet corn we picked up a box of radishes, a cabbage, & some egg noodles.  You can also get PA maple syrup and local honey here.  The local beekeeper is J. Lee Miller - retired Beaver County Cooperative Extension Director ... aka "J-Lee-Bee-Glad" ... famous for his honey and prize winning gladiolus flowers!  :)

PA Maple Syrup & Honey From J. Lee Miller

Finally - how about this decorative cross-cut saw sign hanging over the canned goods & honey display?  Perfect for the fall season!

Schiefelbein's Farm Market Crosscut Saw Sign

VanPelt's Today

VanPelt's Farm Market

We made a trip out to Lisbon, Ohio today and zipped over to VanPelt's Farm Market on the return home.  The one "must have" item on the LFLF list today was garlic, and look what was on the sign!   They also had a couple of specialty items that you don't usually see at local markets around here.
The first one was okra .... and then nearby, they also had a bag of shelled lima beans. 

VanPelt's Farm Market - Okra, Peppers, & Lima Beans

Another rarely seen item ... ground cherries.  About the only time we see ground cherries are as entries at the county fairs!

VanPelt's Farm Market - Yellow Ground Cherries & Other Fruits! 

There were tomatoes by the bushel for canning out front and these cherry & grape tomatoes too. 

VanPelt's Farm Market - Potatoes, Tomatoes, & Sweet Potatoes

LFLF bought sweet corn, nectarines, baked granola cereal, oatmeal raisin cookies, and garlic, of course!   Can't even list the variety of what we didn't buy ... :) 
Local honey rounds out the pictures for today.

Local Honey From J&G Farms Of Leetonia, Ohio

This farm market is well worth making a stop if you're nearby.  They also have refrigerated cases of local Amish country meats, cheeses, milk, eggs, butter, as well as a full line of baked goods!

Canfield Fair Orchard Display

Canfield Fair Orchard Display

If you're over the PA border near Salem or Lisbon, Ohio, these would be great farms to visit!
Click on the picture for location details ... this is one of our favorite competition displays at the Canfield Fair.
See Building 26 - Fruit, Hay, & Grain.    Beautiful apples!  Tradition also says that you have to try the cold apple cider for sale near the display.  
This same building also has the honey & beeswax competition (with local honey/products for sale), wine competion, and new this year, a "home brew" competition ...

In The Market @ Wyebrook Farm

Wyebrook Farm - Meat & Dairy Case

Here we are back inside the Wyebrook Farm Market.  This is the upstairs of the converted barn and the display cases are top notch.  Click on the pics to get a closer look at their offerings ... the word "artisan" comes to mind.   The meat, eggs , & dairy items are in a couple of cases surrounding the meat cutting & service area. 

Wyebrook Farm - Specialty Value Added Meat Items

Since we were planning a trip to Valley Forge, we didn't bring a cooler with us, so we had to pass on anything that needed refrigeration this time. :(
"But wait, there's more" ... LFLF didn't leave empty handed after the delicious lunch.

Wyebrook Farm - Fresh Produce

Organic Peppers & Heirloom Tomatoes

Local Honey - Click Picture To Read Labels

This is definitely a place LFLF would like to visit again.  Maybe reservations for a local dinner next time we're in town???
Oh yea, and that Valley Forge trip?  It capped an already great day!

Valley Forge Encampment Reenactment!

A Honey of a Trip!

Local honey is the feature of the Local Farms - Local Foods roadtrip. Honey seemed to be everywhere when we stopped ..... maybe it's just a popular item for travelers. Our first picture features 2 local honeys that we found on Route 52 at Walker Mountain Lookout on the border of Wythe & Bland Counties in Virginia. Cove Springs Pure Honey comes from a local beekeeper in the valley stretching out below Walker Mountain in the Wytheville area. The proprietor of the Big Walker Mountain General Store said that the sourwood honey comes from beehives brought up on the mountain to collect from the sourwood trees. The hives are then moved back off the mountain.

The next picture of local honey comes from West Virginia. This beautiful display is on I-77 in Beckley, WV at Tamarack - The Best of West Virginia. Tamarack is a showcase for the display and sale of the products of West Virginia's artisans, specialty food producers, and craftpersons. If you're interested in supporting local products in West Virginia, this is a fantastic stop on your journey on I-77.